Goa Seeks Clearance For Double-Dipping Model To Boost Cargo Airways
The Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has urged the civil aviation ministry to permit foreign cargo airlines to adopt the “double-dipping” model in India—an international best practice that allows cargo carriers to make multiple stops within a single round trip. Officials believe this operational reform could transform Goa’s freight connectivity, lower logistics costs, and stimulate regional trade, especially in pharma, electronics, and perishable goods sectors that are vital to the state’s export economy.
The appeal comes at a time when Goa’s cargo ecosystem is grappling with underutilised freighter routes, rising logistics costs, and limited direct access to international markets. Allowing double-dipping could enable cargo aircraft to link Goa with other Indian cargo hubs in a single sortie, optimising aircraft load capacity and route economics. This would also help bridge the growing gap between Goa’s export demand—particularly from its 70-odd pharmaceutical units—and the existing shortfall in scheduled cargo flights due to asymmetric import-export volumes. According to experts, this change would not only increase aircraft utilisation but also reduce the frequency of non-revenue-generating return trips. By spreading operational costs such as fuel, crew, and maintenance across more legs per journey, cargo carriers could achieve a lower cost per tonne of goods transported.
Moreover, higher payloads per sortie mean fewer flights overall, thereby cutting emissions and aligning with global carbon reduction goals. For a state with ambitions to become a logistics hub in the Konkan belt, such a shift would mark a significant efficiency gain in both economic and environmental terms. Goa’s air cargo infrastructure has steadily evolved, yet the scale remains below national averages for export volumes. Experts point out that cargo exports—mainly bulk pharmaceuticals, seafood, and electronics—require specialised handling and often rely on dedicated freighter aircraft due to load configurations incompatible with passenger aircraft. However, low cargo throughput and irregular flight frequencies have made it commercially unsustainable for airlines to maintain direct links to Goa without operational flexibility.
Enabling double-dipping could reverse this trend by making Goa a viable part of broader freight corridors. Calls for policy intervention come amidst growing national emphasis on enhancing regional logistics and Tier-II air freight corridors. Goa’s case highlights how thoughtful regulatory adjustments—like authorising multi-point cargo pickups—could create multiplier effects for trade, jobs, and carbon-conscious logistics. As India eyes global freight leadership, it must modernise its cargo policies to empower smaller states and port cities to play a greater role in export resilience and sustainable supply chains.
