Cancelled Indian flight worries exporters

A decision by Air India to withdraw an Amritsar-London-Toronto flight next month is expected to hit India’s vegetable exporters in the hip pocket.

The route has seen increasing use from vegetable exports from Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.

Exports of baby corn, snow peas, sugar snap peas, okra and other vegetables from the Rajasansi International Airport to London rose from 100 tonnes in 2006/07 to 908 tonnes in 2009/10, reported the Tribune News Service.

Using the alternative Delhi-London-Toronto flight will add costs exporters can ill afford in the face of competition from Thailand, Kenya and Guatemala, according to Alok Dubey of Field Fresh Food.