India Post Freighter

First Dedicated Freighter Aircraft

In August 2007, the India Post marked a historic milestone by introducing its first dedicated freighter aircraft for the exclusive carriage of mail, parcels, and logistics in the North-East region of India. The difficult terrain and limited connectivity of the region had long posed challenges to reliable mail transmission. This path-breaking initiative resolved the chronic issue of delayed mail movement and established a dependable cargo link between the North-East and the rest of the country.

A Lifeline for the North-East

The North-East freighter operates regularly on the Kolkata – Guwahati – Imphal – Agartala – Kolkata route, becoming a vital lifeline for the region. By ensuring faster and more reliable transmission, the service has significantly boosted economic and commercial activities, facilitating smoother movement of goods and correspondence.

The aircraft was chartered from Air India and is a Boeing 737-200 freighter. Each aircraft carries eight pallets—seven measuring 125 x 88 inches and one measuring 108 x 88 inches—with a payload capacity of approximately 13 to 14 tonnes. Collectively, three such freighters can transport nearly 40 tonnes of mail and cargo at a time.

Nationwide Hub-and-Spoke Network

Building upon the success of the North-East freighter, India Post established a nationwide hub-and-spoke air network. Three Boeing 737-200 freighters operate overnight routes and converge at Nagpur for mail exchange before returning to their respective bases.

The routes include:

• Mumbai – Nagpur – Mumbai
• Kolkata – Delhi – Nagpur – Delhi – Kolkata (with daytime operations on the North-East sector)
• Bangalore – Chennai – Nagpur – Chennai – Bangalore

This network directly connects metro cities—Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, and Bangalore—with North-Eastern cities such as Guwahati, Imphal, and Agartala. It is further complemented by a second-tier air service and an extensive road-cum-rail transport system for nationwide coverage.

Strategic Significance

The introduction of dedicated freighter aircraft reduced dependence on external carriers and enhanced the quality, speed, and reliability of mail transmission. It enabled India Post to handle consignments ranging from ordinary letters to time-sensitive and perishable cargo with greater consistency. The initiative also strengthened service commitments to corporate clients and small businesses requiring assured delivery standards.

On 13 September 2009, the freighter aircraft service was formally launched at Chennai by the then Minister for Communications & IT, A. Raja, following a successful trial run that began on 27 July 2009.

Commemorative Recognition

In recognition of this landmark development in India’s postal history, India Post issued a commemorative postage stamp on the Indian Post Freight – First Dedicated Freighter Aircraft (Air India), celebrating a major step toward modernizing mail logistics and strengthening national connectivity.