Manohar International Airport (MIA), developed and operated by GMR Goa International Airport Ltd (GGIAL), has announced the handling of its first ever expedition non-scheduled charter movement for the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Vasco, Goa. This charter flight, an IL76, was carrying essential expedition material like medicines, food supplies and other necessary general commodities to Antarctica via Cape Town (South Africa) for the ongoing research in polar and ocean sciences as part of an Antarctica expedition.
This was the first time an IL-76 took off from Manohar International Airport. Nicknamed the “Gajraj”, it is a large, Soviet-designed, four-engine turbofan strategic airlifter known for its heavy-lift capability, serving as a primary transport aircraft, carrying cargo, vehicles and personnel to remote locations.
This charter movement was the 3rd specialised cargo charter handled by GMR Goa Air Cargo at Manohar International Airport in the last 2 years. GGAC has been a preferred choice for handling critical specialised freighters and non-scheduled cargo charter operations with its world class infrastructure and specialised cargo handling capabilities, highlighted a release.