Mumbai-based Jet Airways is planning to enter its air cargo business by leasing up to three Airbus A330-200F freighter aircraft from Etihad, its Abu Dhabi-based partner airline. The plan is to start with the wet lease of one A330-200F in the next few months and later expand. As the business grows, the aircraft would be converted into dry leases.

The move will help the company tackle Dubai-based Emirates, which carried the highest amount of inbound and outbound air freight in 2013-14. Jet Airways is making a major bet on air cargo because it expects India’s manufacturing story to see a strong upswing with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Make-in-India campaign.