Air India strike losses for fresh produce exporters
This week began with piles of empty boxes piled up at markets. Their contents had been export quality fruits and vegetables, but these had all gone after being sold off at half their value to compensate for the lack of foreign market access.
"The boxes were returned from the air cargo terminal in Mumbai. The bookings were on AI flights, which were cancelled. We are selling the stock at a great loss in local markets now. The boxes have become trash," said exporter Bhima S Hanje of Deepali Enterprises.
He said the market has 25 small to medium sized export businesses who would ordinarily export their produce to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UK.
"The strike is bleeding us daily. Our customers abroad are frantically calling us to know when the cargo will reach them. We have no answer to that as the strike continues," said an exporter.
The boxes can not be transported via other airlines as the traders have pricing and weight agreements with Air India.
The exporters hope for the civil aviation ministry to step in to end the strike, Hanje said. "Otherwise our losses will mount."
