Air India Transports 1,000 Tonnes of Mangoes
In April, Air India transported close to 1,000 tonnes of fresh Indian mangoes to several countries in Europe, North America and the Middle East
New Delhi: From the gourmet grocers in New York to the vibrant weekend markets in London, Indian mangoes are making waves worldwide. Due to their high demand, this seasonal treat has quickly grown to become one of Air India’s most celebrated cargo segments with shipments taking off all over the world and making a big splash in cities such as Toronto, San Francisco, Frankfurt, Tokyo, and Sydney, among others.
In April, Air India transported close to 1,000 tonnes of fresh Indian mangoes to several countries in Europe, North America and the Middle East.
“Perishable movement has seen a significant increase this past year, mangoes being one of the more conspicuous examples. We continue to make investments in enhancing our cold-chain infrastructure, streamlining processes at key airports and strengthening our partnerships with exporters to make Air India the preferred choice for fresh cargo,” said Ramesh Mamidala, Head of Cargo, Air India.
Officials said Air India is facilitating the connection between mango farms in the hinterlands of India and international demands by transporting popular varieties like Alphonso from Maharashtra and Safeda and Dussehri from Uttar Pradesh. More than 75% of these mangoes originate from Western India and are flown to 43 destinations in 31 countries across five continents via Air India’s extensive route network, the airline said. The key destinations are the United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada, United Arab Emirates, Germany and The Netherlands.
In order to maintain freshness of mangoes at the height of 30,000 feet, Air India uses a well-managed cold chain and some astute cargo handling. Mangoes are kept in temperature-controlled APEDA-certified facilities prior to takeoff ensuring that they are at their freshest right out of the farm. Once at the airport, thermal blankets and cool dollies ensure the fruit stays chilled as it moves across the tarmac and into the belly of the aircraft. “Our teams handle mango shipments with the same precision and care you’d reserve for delicate glassware,” added Mamidala.
