All-cargo airline Pradhaan Air Express has received its first converted A320 freighter aircraft as part of its plans to operate a fleet of four planes by next year. The Delhi-based cargo carrier earlier this month secured the no-objection certificate from the Civil Aviation Ministry to start a cargo carrier. It had also announced that the airline will start operations by this year.

Pradhaan Air’s first converted A320 cargo plane, named “Pehalwan” arrived at Delhi Airport. The 21-tons payload capacity cargo plane with a fully palletized main deck will offer charter capacity to domestic shippers and freight forwarders on domestic as well as international routes. The converted freighter will also be available for on-demand cargo charters.

“The arrival of the aircraft marks the completion of another critical phase and brings us closer to our Air Operator Permit to kick start the commercial operations very soon. We look forward to keeping up the positive momentum, aiming at further fleet expansion,” said Nipun Anand, CEO & Founder, Pradhaan Air Express. The airline is expected to take the second A320 P2F (passenger aircraft to freighter) by this year-end with further fleet expansion under consideration, he further said.

“The airline intends to add two A321 freighters to its fleet as well by next year,” Anand added. With this key development, Pradhaan Air Express is moving towards leveraging the boom in the air cargo industry, which has rebounded after the pandemic.