"We will be strengthening our air infrastructure, launching an aviation hub in Ahmedabad. We have expansion plans in Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai. We will be investing Rs 25 crore in the current year for these projects," Blue Dart Express Ltd MD Malcolm Monteiro said.
The company, he said, will extend its route network to 60 cities from the current 39. "The route network will be extended to 60 with the addition of 21 route connections to the existing 39," Monteiro said.
Blue Dart on Tuesday inducted two Boeing 757-200 frieghters into its fleet as part of its capacity augmentation programme.
The addition of the 757s will increase Blue Dart capacity from 166 to 250 tonnes per night, Monteiro said. The aircraft were acquired on lease by Blue Dart Aviation which has an agreement with Blue Dart Express to utlise the aircraft for dedicated domestic services.
However, Monteiro declined to divulge financial details of the lease agreement, but clarified that the investment of Rs 25 crore that it planned in the current year does not include the aircraft leasing.
With the acquisition, the network capacity of the firm would increase by 50 per cent, he added. The Boeing 757-200 freighter is a derivative of twin engine passenger jetliner with two-person flight deck and is designed to accept upto 15 pallets with a payload of 28 tonne in the main deck and additional freight in the lower holds.
