Although the Chennai customs has allowed import and export of courier parcels as personal baggage of couriers onboard flights from August 1 at the Chennai airport, not many businesses seem to be taking advantage of the scheme.

Around 25 registered courier companies are allowed to use the facility but the commissioner of customs, Chennai Airport and Aircargo, Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, admits the service has not received a very good response so far.

“There was a demand for the facility, but I think the high cost involved has proved a deterrent,” he said. Courier agents , however, say the service could come useful as the city is home to a large number of automobile, information technology and electronics companies that will require it.

“The onboard courier facility is for a niche market. While it has come to Chennai only now we have been using it in other countries and expect it to get popular in India soon,” says Prem Kumar, managing director, Royale Asia Couriers, claiming that his company has already handled four onboard couriers over the last month in Chennai.

“There are companies in Chennai that supply automotive parts to assembly lines abroad . One of our onboard couriers carried a spare part to Texas from Chennai recently,” he added.