The state-run airline, on Monday, suspended all cargo flights on six routes to India for 15 days, citing the risk of rising Coronavirus cases in the country.

Smartphone brands such as Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi and several handset contract manufacturers are exploring alternate options of air cargo carriers to import components after China’s Sichuan Airlines suspended all shipments to India.

The state-run airline, on Monday, suspended all cargo flights on six routes to India for 15 days, citing the risk of rising Coronavirus cases in the country.

“This might lead to component prices shooting up in the near term if other airlines replicate similar restrictions. This clubbed with already short in supply chipsets will add further mounting pressure on production in India,” said associate research manager-client devices, at research firm IDC India, Upasana Joshi.

Despite a global component shortage and increased Covid infection risk in India, manufacturers are putting their best efforts to keep India manufacturing operations up and running.