Blue Dart to buy two Boeing 757s this year

News Clip : The Economic Times, Ahmedabad.

12th January, 2006.

Blue Dart Express, one of the largest integrated air express courier and logistics companies, is planning to purchase two B757 aircrafts this year, thus taking its total fleet to seven. The air express company currently operates with five B737 freighters and in the long run plans to replace these 737s by 757s which have more capacity.

At present, we are carrying 166 tonnes every night and after the purchase of two more aircafts we will be carrying close to 250 tonnes," Blue Dart's chief operating officer Malcolm Monteiro said.

Monteiro said that the company is talking to some companies for buying these aircrafts but nothing has been finalsied as yet.

The company which is bullish on the Gujarat market is also planning to have air connectivity to Ahmedabad shortly. "Gujarat is a growing hub for pharma, gems, jewellery and textile industry and contributes roughly 5% to our revenues. We expect a growth of around 30% once we begin air route operation from here," Monteiro said. The company has 30 offices, 10 franchises and 17 regional service participants in Gujarat and in the last six months, it has added new warehouses at Bhavnagar, Sarkhej and Ahmedabad.

The company also launched its new service which is an upgraded version of SMS based service Mobile Dart that enables customers to track thier shipment vai SMS anywhere in the country.

According to Monteiro, this value-added service requires no registration and customers can avail of this facility by messaging their airwaybill number and get an automated response.