Pune: Ongoing tensions in the West Asian region have spiked worries for city-based exporters and traders, with sending of cargo to Dubai and Abu Dhabi completely halted for the last three or four days. As of Tuesday, traders said the situation is still volatile, with direct and regular flights from Pune to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) yet to begin. Many fear that it will be long before things normalise and by then, their contacts in the UAE could be lost. “Exports aren’t taking place ever since the conflict suddenly erupted. From Pune, perishables such as fresh vegetables, fruits and meat (mutton) are regularly exported. With flights not operating, the cargo is being diverted to domestic channels. However, the long-term effects of the crisis are already palpable and have started to worry those in the business,” said Tushar Sutar, joint secretary of the Exim Integrated Club, which works in the logistics field. Pradeep Kumar, joint general manager (cargo) at Pune airport, confirmed that losses have started to show. “On Saturday, approximately 3 tonne (MT) of international cargo was returned from the terminal. As of Tuesday, we have incurred a total loss of around 5-6 MT of international cargo,” he told TOI. Another official at the city airport said, “Obviously, more losses can be incurred if things remain the same. We have informed logistics companies and traders of the situation on ground. At present, there is no clarity about when flights will start again.” Pune airport director Santosh Dhoke confirmed that on March 4, three flights to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, operated by IndiGo, SpiceJet and Air India Express, stood cancelled. Approximately 6 MT of fresh vegetables and meat is exported to Abu Dhabi from Pune each week on its flights, which operate three days a week. “When it comes to Dubai, around 1 MT of the cargo is exported as flights of IndiGo and SpiceJet frequently carry the load factor. On every consignment, a trader earns approximately USD 100 for every 10kg. So, the ongoing situation can be said to be a major loss of opportunities. The worrying factor is that things are still uncertain as the conflict is far from over,” Sutar added. “Money earned from international cargo is more than domestic. Even if airports and airspaces opens, it will take long before things are back to normal. We are losing out on business, which is built over contacts and relationships. The uncertainty and violence will put a dent in it. The parties out there could potentially wait for a long time before engaging with us again, and we will also have to look for other partners in the meantime. If any announcement had come about a certain date for resumption of regular flight movements, we would have been at ease. However, this is not the case,” a trader-cum-exporter told TOI, choosing anonymity.
