Trichy: Setting a record for itself, the international cargo terminal at Trichy International Airport handled the highest ever freight of 39 tonnes on a single day on October 26. The averaged handling of the cargo phenomenally increased due to Diwali season demand, even with fewer passengers, said K Gunasekaran, airport director.

Addressing media persons, he said that though the cargo terminal handling was only 20 tonnes a day on average, it doubled on this day. “It is for the first ever occasion in the history of cargo terminal, which was commissioned in 2011, that such a huge throughput is achieved,” he said.

Less occupancy of passengers, coupled with Diwali demand for foreign goods were the drivers behind the spurt in record cargo, over 50 per cent of which consisted of perishables, like flowers and vegetables, he said.

Adding that the record handling of freight was achieved as all the five international flights from Trichy airport was to the optimum level, he said Singapore accounted for 90 per cent of the cargo throughput.

“A direct flight service will be introduced to Abu Dhabi from February 2, 2017. Jet Airways will operate the Boeing carrier, as Gulf countries have good occupancy rate. This direct connectivity will also serve as a transit airport to west-bound travellers,” he added.