Bengaluru-based cargo carrier Quikjet Airlines has returned to the skies after obtaining a new Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India's civil aviation regulator.

The cargo carrier, with two converted Boeing 737-800 freighters (B737-800BCF and B737-800BDSF), has operated for India's e-commerce giant Amazon connecting Hyderabad to Delhi and Bengaluru. The cargo airline is expected to launch the Delhi-Mumbai-Delhi sectors soon.

When a spokesman for Quikjet Airlines reached out to comment on operations for Amazon, he declined to provide details and requested that it wait until the official launch, which the spokesperson says is scheduled for January 23.

The GMR Hyderabad International Airport took it to LinkedIn during the weekend to welcome the new cargo airline. It said: “#HYDAirport is pleased to welcome back Quikjet to relaunch cargo airline operations today with daily connections from Hyderabad to Delhi and Bangalore. This will boost the state's economy and enable businesses to increase freight connectivity & faster reach for E-commerce. We look forward to growing together.”

Quikjet Airlines was established in 2007 and on 16 February 2016, the company announced the commencement of B737-400SF jet cargo flight operations with Mumbai-based Sovika Aviation, as well as domestic and international cargo charter services, initially serving Delhi, Chennai and Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. After decommissioning its B737-400SF, it ceased operations in 2017 and has remained inactive ever since.

When it launched, Ireland-based ASL Aviation Holdings, a global aviation services provider and leading ACMI airline, was the majority shareholder. However, early last year, ahead of filing for a new AOC, the company brought in India's leading logistics and supply chain entrepreneur Cyrus Guzder as a majority investor with a 51% stake. The rest of the company is still owned by ASL Aviation Holdings.

Guzder is the Chairman and Managing Director of AFL Private Limited. He led the introduction of international air courier services in India, through DHL Worldwide Express, which he led for over 25 years. He served as a director on the boards of several companies including Air India, Alfa Laval, Tata Infomedia, Tata Honeywell, Barclays Bank Local Advisory Board, BP India and others.

According to some industry experts we spoke to, we confirmed that a change in ownership of the airline, with a majority stake held by an Indian, prompted the Indian regulator to grant the AOC.

According to a report published last month, Amazon.com is actively seeking customers to help load its cargo planes despite a global slowdown in air freight demand. The US-based company has more than 100 aircraft deployed to various cargo carriers and aims to keep them fully loaded and operational.

ASL Aviation Holdings has been operating on behalf of Amazon in Europe for some time. ASL has contracts with Amazon for its full charter or CMI contracts.