New Delhi: blueThe first A321ceo cargo plane is due on time during the first half of 2022 and will show everyone that the airline is serious about growing its cargo business, the carrier’s chief commercial officer (CCO) said. William Boulter Said.
On April 21, IndiGo announced that it was in the process of leasing four A321ceo cargo aircraft, each has a capacity to handle 27 tonnes of cargo.
The CCO told PTI in an interview last week that IndiGo is not looking to launch its own Frequent Flyer Program Now and fully focusing on co-branded arrangements with banks.
IndiGo Airlines, in partnership with Kotak Mahindra Bank, on December 14, launched a co-branded credit card that allows customers to earn points (6E Award) which can be used to buy tickets on his flights.
A similar co-branded credit card was launched by the airline in partnership with HDFC bank and Mastercard, in February 2020.
To a question whether IndiGo is looking to launch its frequent flyer programme, he replied in the negative.
“At the moment, our focus is on the co-branded (credit card) arrangement that we have come up with with banks. We believe that these (cards) provide a lot of benefits to the customers,” Boulter said.
The Frequent Flyer Program allows a passenger to earn points while booking tickets for that airline. He can then use those points to purchase air tickets on the same airline or to purchase items or services from partner companies.
Boulter said that IndiGo has the best frequent flyer program in the world and that is the low fares.
“It seems people come back to take advantage of lower fares. For the time being, our focus is on co-branded systems,” he said.
6E Award (indigo point system) offers customers the ability to earn points in their many shopping activities and a vast range of capabilities, from supermarkets to pharmacies to purchase fuel, he noted.
“We are confident that our customers will achieve this quickly. We are very pleased with the growth of 6E Rewards so far. I don’t think there’s any downside,” Boulter said.
Talking about the airline’s cargo business, the CCO said, “Our cargo business has been one of the successes during the pandemic. In fact, we have operated around 8,000 cargo-in-cabin charter flights.”
Domestically, the carrier was currently operating in 71 cities in India and each of those points has cargo capacity, he said.
On the subject of the order for the above four cargo planes, he said, “The first aircraft has just gone to Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd as it is being converted (from passenger aircraft to cargo aircraft). It will be out in some time. Next. first half of the year.”
“This will really be a statement to everyone that IndiGo is very serious about cargo and this cargo is going to be an important part of our business,” he added.
Asked if the airline plans to expand the size of its order for cargo planes, he replied, “We have ordered four aircraft. We will see how the business develops. We will take further decisions.” Will take it later.”
Boulter said he sees great potential for operating cargo flights between India and China.
“We opened services to China before the pandemic – to Chengdu and Guangzhou. They were very successful in a very short period of time,” he said.
Obviously, now, after the pandemic, the borders (with China) are closed to passenger traffic, but the goods market is very upbeat, he said.
He mentioned that many items such as PPE and test kits were produced in large quantities in China to fight the pandemic across the world.
“We see a high demand for cargo out of China. We have operated a lot of charters in the last year especially in Guangzhou. During the second wave of the pandemic in India, we operated more than 70 charter flights between Kolkata and Guangzhou. operated. Bring in the oxygen concentrator,” he said.
“So, China will obviously continue to be an important manufacturing base. This will generate a lot of cargo demand. As IndiGo, we are happy to meet that demand as far as we can,” They said.
IndiGo is not currently operating cargo charter flights to China, but it was always in touch with agents in that market and may have charter services in the future, the CCO said.
On April 21, IndiGo announced that it was in the process of leasing four A321ceo cargo aircraft, each has a capacity to handle 27 tonnes of cargo.
The CCO told PTI in an interview last week that IndiGo is not looking to launch its own Frequent Flyer Program Now and fully focusing on co-branded arrangements with banks.
IndiGo Airlines, in partnership with Kotak Mahindra Bank, on December 14, launched a co-branded credit card that allows customers to earn points (6E Award) which can be used to buy tickets on his flights.
A similar co-branded credit card was launched by the airline in partnership with HDFC bank and Mastercard, in February 2020.
To a question whether IndiGo is looking to launch its frequent flyer programme, he replied in the negative.
“At the moment, our focus is on the co-branded (credit card) arrangement that we have come up with with banks. We believe that these (cards) provide a lot of benefits to the customers,” Boulter said.
The Frequent Flyer Program allows a passenger to earn points while booking tickets for that airline. He can then use those points to purchase air tickets on the same airline or to purchase items or services from partner companies.
Boulter said that IndiGo has the best frequent flyer program in the world and that is the low fares.
“It seems people come back to take advantage of lower fares. For the time being, our focus is on co-branded systems,” he said.
6E Award (indigo point system) offers customers the ability to earn points in their many shopping activities and a vast range of capabilities, from supermarkets to pharmacies to purchase fuel, he noted.
“We are confident that our customers will achieve this quickly. We are very pleased with the growth of 6E Rewards so far. I don’t think there’s any downside,” Boulter said.
Talking about the airline’s cargo business, the CCO said, “Our cargo business has been one of the successes during the pandemic. In fact, we have operated around 8,000 cargo-in-cabin charter flights.”
Domestically, the carrier was currently operating in 71 cities in India and each of those points has cargo capacity, he said.
On the subject of the order for the above four cargo planes, he said, “The first aircraft has just gone to Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd as it is being converted (from passenger aircraft to cargo aircraft). It will be out in some time. Next. first half of the year.”
“This will really be a statement to everyone that IndiGo is very serious about cargo and this cargo is going to be an important part of our business,” he added.
Asked if the airline plans to expand the size of its order for cargo planes, he replied, “We have ordered four aircraft. We will see how the business develops. We will take further decisions.” Will take it later.”
Boulter said he sees great potential for operating cargo flights between India and China.
“We opened services to China before the pandemic – to Chengdu and Guangzhou. They were very successful in a very short period of time,” he said.
Obviously, now, after the pandemic, the borders (with China) are closed to passenger traffic, but the goods market is very upbeat, he said.
He mentioned that many items such as PPE and test kits were produced in large quantities in China to fight the pandemic across the world.
“We see a high demand for cargo out of China. We have operated a lot of charters in the last year especially in Guangzhou. During the second wave of the pandemic in India, we operated more than 70 charter flights between Kolkata and Guangzhou. operated. Bring in the oxygen concentrator,” he said.
“So, China will obviously continue to be an important manufacturing base. This will generate a lot of cargo demand. As IndiGo, we are happy to meet that demand as far as we can,” They said.
IndiGo is not currently operating cargo charter flights to China, but it was always in touch with agents in that market and may have charter services in the future, the CCO said.
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