CALCUTTA, Dec 16: Exports through the air route from eastern states have suffered a setback due to scarcity of space in international freighters and cargo at the city's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport.

The secretary of the eastern chapter of the Air Cargo Agents' Association of India Ajit Dutta told The Financial Express that the available air cargo capacity in freighters and passenger airlines from the city is not enough to meet the demand.

"The existing capacity for cargo movement in the three freighters and the passenger aircraft is around 1,000 tonnes per month. However, cargo movement from eastern states is about 1,200 tonnes per month during the lean season and it rises to around 1,600 tonnes per month in the peak season," Dutta said.

The three freighters are Royal Jordanian Airlines, Kuwait Airways operating one flight every week and Lufthansa operating two flights every week. On an average, these airlines reserve space for 30 tonnes of goods in each flight leading to a total space for 120 tonnes per week and 500 tonnes per month.

Space for the balance 700 tonnes is provided by the passenger aircraft, hes added.

However, Dutta said there is no surety of getting space in the passenger aircraft. "In the passenger aircraft there is no surety of space for our cargo because everything depends on the turnout of passengers. Frequently, we have to unload our goods."

Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, KLM, British Airways, Royal Brunei Airways, Royal Jordanian Airlines, Indian Airlines and Air India operate passenger flights from Calcutta. "In the lean season, that is during February, March and April, we make it somehow or the other but during the peak months of October, November and December there is always a shortage of space. If some new freighters start operations from the city, I think they will win a good amount of business," Dutta said.Air cargo agents also complain of shortage of space in the city's air terminal.

"At present we have a space of 200 sq mt for customs examination of the cargo and another 400 sq mt of bonded area where the goods are kept for 24 hours for security purposes before allowing shipment and this space is too small to keep the cargo," Dutta said. Air cargo from eastern block generally consists of leather goods, finished leather, silk fabrics, silk goods, engineering items and mica goods. The perishable items include prawn, crab, live fishes for aquariums, flowers and vegetables. Exporters said although the documentation process has come back to normal, cargo movement is still suffering."There is still a backlog and most of the cargo was meant for the Christmas market, which is about to end. We are trying to clear off these items as early as possible. However, the real loss was in the perishable goods sector because exports cannot be kept on hold for these items," Dutta said.

Moreover, several exporters of perishable goods are not being able to take up business due to the space shortage. "There are some inquiries from international buyers for vegetables but due to the shortage of space in the freighters and cargo complex they are leaving them out."