AR
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Emirates SkyCargo has transported more than 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines on its flights to more than 80 destinations. This historic milestone has been achieved by the air cargo carrier in about 18 months since the first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines was dispatched in October 2020.
More than 2,000 Emirates flights have delivered over 4,200 tonnes of COVID-19 vaccines (equivalent to over 1 billion doses) more than 80 destinations across the world. Out of these, at least two-thirds of the vaccine doses were delivered to developing countries.
Speaking about the achievement, Nabil Sultan, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Cargo, affirmed that since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the world, Emirates SkyCargo has been focused on providing necessary support and assistance to global communities to recover from the repercussions of the crisis. The airline has particular prioritised its efforts to assist developing countries to overcome the impact of the pandemic.
Emirates SkyCargo emerged as one of the first global air cargo carriers to map out global logistics to facilitate the movement of crucial COVID-19 vaccines to countries in need.
In October 2020, Emirates announced the establishment of a dedicated GDP certified airside hub for the transportation of COVID-19 vaccines. During the same month, working with its logistics partners, the cargo division of Emirates transported trial shipments of Covid-19 vaccines through Dubai.
Later in January 2021, Emirates SkyCargo partnered with leading Dubai-based companies to set up the Dubai Vaccine Logistics Alliance to accelerate the distribution of vaccines through Dubai to developing countries globally.
Furthermore, the carrier signed an MoU with UNICEF in February 2021 to boost the transportation and delivery of COVID-19 vaccines in partnership with the COVAX initiative. By early April 2021, Emirates SkyCargo had transported more than 50 million doses of vaccines to countries across the world.
In June 2021, Emirates SkyCargo expanded its pharma cool chain infrastructure at Dubai International Airport to facilitate the storage of an additional estimated 60-90 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines at any one point in time.
As global vaccine distribution and administration surged, Emirates SkyCargo increased bulk transportation of COVID-19 vaccines from manufacturing origins to destinations. By December 2021, the total vaccine doses transported reached 600 million.
Emirates SkyCargo is one of the leading global air cargo carriers focused on transporting temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical cargo. Besides COVID-19 vaccines, the carrier ensured the transportation of crucial life-saving medicines and medical equipment on its flights to more than 140 destinations across six continents. On a daily basis, Emirates' aircraft was transporting an estimated 200 tonnes of pharmaceutical cargo during the fight against COVID-19.
SOURCE: Khaleej Times