(a) whether any assessment has been made regarding the growth of the domestic cargo business in the current financial year, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether it is a fact that the Government would establish offsite air freight stations and would come with an air cargo policy, if so, the details thereof; and
(c) whether the establishment would be against the interests of airport operators, if so, the steps to be taken to balance their interests?
The Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Jayant Sinha)
(a) The growth of domestic air cargo handled in India in the first seven months of the current financial year 2018-19 has been 13.5% over the volumes handled in the previous year''s corresponding period. The Indian air cargo industry has posted significant growth on the back of both the strength of India''s economic growth and also with many other drivers of growth in India''s commerce, trade, investment and consumption.
(b) & (c): In accordance with the Policy Guidelines on Air Freight Stations introduced by the Government on 28.10.2014 read with air cargo policy provisions contained in Para. 20(k) of the comprehensive National Civil Aviation Policy of 2016, the international air cargo infrastructure is strengthened through the establishment of off-airport Air Freight Stations in the hinterlands besides decongesting the congested air cargo terminals at airports. The comprehensive policy already in place has numerous measures to uphold the interests of airport operators. The draft National Air Cargo Policy, which inter alia seeks to carry forward these initiatives, has been drawn up after extensive stakeholder consultations.