Virgin Atlantic has been operating services in India from past 22 years, serving both Mumbai and Delhi with daily and double daily frequencies. We recognise the importance and potential of India as major air cargo market. We are always exploring partnership opportunities across the globe, says Alex McEwan, Country Manager, South Asia.
Ritika Arora Bhola
How is Virgin Atlantic gearing up to meet the increased demand, achieve pre-COVID cargo volume levels and 100 per cent capacity utilisation?
We work to maximize capacity utilization, which was critical during the peak of the pandemic when we paused our scheduled passenger flying. During the time, we pivoted and re-engineered our business into a successful freight only operation offering cargo-only services and charters for the first time in the airline’s history. This remains important today as global travel rebounds and we continue to review our network considering aircraft availability and the services, which support the customer demand. We have increased capacity across our network presenting additional connection opportunities to our Indian customers, including a new route to Austin, Texas and Tampa, Florida, alongside a seasonal service to Cape Town, South Africa, which will begin later this year.
Today, the world seeks to ship to India. Where do the trade activities with India stand presently? Do you think of India as an investment destination and any plans to start trade in the country?
We recognise the importance and potential of India as a key trading nation and major air cargo market. We review our program to provide services that our customers require, and this includes giving them the best service and experience.
Elaborate on the Indian destinations covered, and what kind of cargo is moved to and from the country?
We have operated service to India for 22 years, serving both Mumbai and Delhi with daily and double daily frequencies, respectively. There is a broad range of commodities flying to India, including consumer goods, hi-tech, e-commerce, and machinery. Exports from India include pharmaceuticals, garments, machinery, and perishables.
Elaborate on your expansion plans in India, in terms of fleet/capacity and possible partnership with Indian cargo carriers?
In June, we launched the second daily flight on London-Delhi route. This is our largest-ever flying programme in India. We are always exploring partnership opportunities across the globe, and it is an inherent pillar of our growth strategy.
Elaborate on the carrier’s freighter ops worldwide. Throw light on the new freighters networks or destinations added?
We can confirm that Virgin Atlantic Cargo’s current European freighter operation ceased by October-end. We are exploring opportunities for faster connections to our flight network via European gateways and continue to identify opportunities to fly short-haul cargo only flights for this winter season.
Tell us if the carrier has the right technology and infra to move variety of cargo, including heavy, outsized, temperature sensitive, worldwide?
Our freighters offer a reliable, competitive solution for cargo requirements. Whether customers are looking to ship pharmaceuticals, high value or sensitive cargo and temperature sensitive perishable goods, we offer a range of specialist products to connect cargo to hundreds of destinations across our online destinations and offline trucking and interline partner networks. We recently approved the use of Envirotainer’s game changing Releye® RLP and RAP containers. As we continue to support important supply chains across the globe, the unit makes for an addition to Virgin Atlantic Cargo’s portfolio of unit load devices (ULDs) as it can guarantee even greater security for highly valuable and sensitive pharma and life science shipments. Also, we recently extended our long-standing partnership with Airbase GSE in a new five-year contract, continuing the successful operation of ULD Cargo. The partnership includes ULD management systems, procurement planning and digitalization and assisting in creating a sustainable future with environmental management systems. As we continue to strive towards a greener cargo operation, the partnership extension sees Airbase GSE support our move toward our 2050 sustainability target, by recycling all Virgin Atlantic cargo nets, saving 200 tonnes in landfill waste.
How would you rate infra in England for efficient cargo movement? Does it support the airlines plan to move cargo or do you feel there’s need for improvement?
We are fortunate enough to work with dnata, as our handling partner in the UK, who recently opened a new modern cargo centre at London Heathrow. The new facility supports our Joint Venture with Delta Cargo, and our aligned handling and commitment to customers, as we future proof the Joint Venture’s position in the UK market by increasing our cargo footprint at the airport. The dnata City East’ can lay claim to being the largest off-site cargo handling operation at the UK’s largest commercial aviation hub. The new 115,000 sq. ft. facility (Phase II) was designed to operate in conjunction with dnata City East’s existing 242,000 sq. ft. facility (Phase I), which opened in September 2019. Our exports remain at dnata’s Phase I facility and all imports will be handled at the new Phase II facility, delivering the highest levels of service for the airline’s customers.
The last few years witnessed many freighter conversions taking place. Do you think P2F trend will survive now or will end with pax ops gaining momentum?
As airlines deploy more next generation fuel-efficient aircraft. They are, in turn, more of the previous generation aircraft available for conversion. P2F can serve a role in certain market segments.
Airlines are moving towards achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and adopting SAF. Tell us about the carrier’s initiatives in this regard?
Beyond fleet transformation, we are committed to working with new tech innovators to seed, support and adopt the breakthrough technologies capable of delivering change. As a long-standing advocate for SAF, we have been partnering with LanzaTech since 2011, flying the world’s first commercial flight operated on sustainable fuels in 2018 and supporting efforts to build the first UK SAF plant by 2025. Recently, we have continued to support new tech innovation, working with partners—Storegga Geotechnologies and Carbon Engineering—to accelerate the use of direct air capture of CO2. We have recently partnered with the Neste Oyi and are pleased to announce the UK supply of 2.5 million liters/2,000 MT of neat SAF, which will be delivered in the first half of 2022 to London Heathrow. The supply is a vital step towards our target of 10 per cent SAF by 2030. The agreement forms part of a wider collaboration between Virgin Atlantic and Neste to increase the availability of SAF usage in the UK. As a founding member of Sustainable Aviation and the UK’s Jet Zero Council and through the Clean Skies for Tomorrow coalition, we play a role in bringing industry and Government together to accelerate SAF development. Building a domestic SAF industry would put Global Britain at the forefront of commercialising new technologies in support of Net Zero ambitions, capable of reducing the lifecycle carbon impact of aviation fuel by 75 per cent compared to traditional jet fuel.
