Bengaluru: February 16 2016. Quikjet Airlines, India’s new airline, today announced the launch of B737-400SF jet freighter operations initially connecting Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

Quikjet is India’s first neutral cargo airline offering airport to airport freighter capacity with a premium overnight network specifically designed to best serve the requirements of the express cargo, e-commerce and motor industries.

Quikjet’s B737 freighter has a capacity of 21.2 tonnes and is configured to take 11 pallets of cargo. The new service will offer 4 daily flights, operating overnight to link Delhi with Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad in the 1st phase and will connect Mumbai & Kolkata in the 2nd phase, covering all major metro hubs

The airline is launching with services for Mumbai based Sovika Aviation and will also be available for domestic and international cargo charters. Sovika’s consistent focus on customer service fits perfectly with the ethos and mission of Quikjet Airlines to always exceed customer expectations.

Quikjet Airlines is a Bengaluru based airline that was granted it’s scheduled services Air Operator’s Permit by India’s Director General of Civil Aviation in early February. The airline is a joint venture with ASL Aviation Group, a Dublin, Ireland based global aviation services provider with 7 airlines, more than 100 aircraft and airline operations on 6 continents.

Hugh Flynn, Chief Executive of ASL Aviation Group welcomed the launch of Quikjet operations as a major innovation for business and industry in India.

“Quikjet will now offer a neutral cargo service and as it grows it aims to serve multiple customers, airlines, business and industry to help enable growth, competitiveness and customer service”, said Hugh Flynn. “In turn this will benefit the economy in India and this benefit will be felt more and more as Quikjet expands its operations in the months and years ahead.”

Capt. Preetham Phillip, Quikjet Airlines Chief Executive agreed, commenting that the launch of the B737 freighter service is also the launch of a much needed new era in the Indian air cargo industry.

“We are significantly improving air cargo capacity and we now offer customers a far more premium service keeping in mind the time sensitive nature of the air cargo business” said Capt. Phillip. “Our newly introduced connectivity with Sovika will provide a key advantage to the booming e-commerce industry.

India has seen huge growth in the number of passenger aircraft but the freighter segment in India has not grown, and there are now just 7 freighter aircraft serving the 7th largest economy in the world.

“In some cases belly space is unsuitable for large-sized shipments or certain categories of goods that cannot be shipped on passenger airlines for regulatory reasons. Our expertise and focus lies in providing much needed airport to airport air cargo connectivity.” Capt. Phillip continued.

ASL Aviation Group expects Quikjet to grow this partnership with Sovika and to expand its services for all customers based on its capability to provide a range of aircraft with varying payload options to suit specific customer requirements.

“We see a dynamic future for Quikjet,” said Hugh Flynn. “There is a real and significant market need and Quikjet is already building its capability to serve this need. We will be providing assistance and experience from the ASL airlines that currently serve the world’s major express integrator brands and we have no doubt that Quikjet will play a major role in the development and expansion of India’s cargo business.”

Sovika Aviation, an airport to airport logistics specialist, is the aviation arm of Mumbai based 35 year old Sovika Group. On the occasion of the freighter launch, Sahil Mehta CEO of Sovika Aviation said “This freighter is the perfect extension of our existing business model and complements well with our vision of connecting maximum airports across the country with effective air cargo services. He further added “The partnership with Quikjet will go a long way in fulfilling this vision”

Sovika COO, Akhilesh Rao said “The freighter network has been designed in a way that it blends well with our line flight networks thereby enabling maximization of loads and guaranteeing capacities to the fraternity”.