Aviation Ministry discusses Covid-19 vaccine transportation with airlines

Civil Aviation Ministry officials on Thursday met airlines authorities after the government approved Covid-19 vaccines - Covishield and Covaxin for restricted emergency use and they discussed the transportation modalities of the vaccine. Civil Aviation Ministry officials have prepared a draft plan on flight operations and storage capacity of the vaccine. The officials also discuss on the phase-wise utilisation of airports for vaccine storage and transportation, sources told ETV Bharat.

New Delhi: Days after the government approved Covid-19 vaccines - Covishield and Covaxin for restricted emergency use, Civil Aviation Ministry officials on Thursday met airlines to discuss on the transportation of vaccines.

Sources told ETV Bharat that Civil Aviation Ministry officials have prepared a draft plan on flight operations and storage capacity of the vaccine. The officials also discuss on the phase-wise utilisation of airports for vaccine storage and transportation.

"Two crore doses of Covid-19 vaccine to 41 destinations across the country will be delivered by January 8 from the Pune airport," an airport official who did not wish to be named told ETV Bharat.

Another official said Airport Authority of India Cargo Logistics and Allied Services Company Limited (AAICLAS) will monitor the vaccine transport across 41 destinations and Pune will be its centre point.

For northern India, Delhi and Karnal will be made mini-hubs while for the eastern region, Kolkata and Guwahati have been chosen as the mini-hubs for vaccine distribution. For Southern India, Chennai and Hyderabad will be the designated points.

As per the available information, IndiGo and SpiceJet are in the process of making arrangements for the transportation of vaccine.

In a query to ETV Bharat, IndiGo said, "In line with our business model and cost leadership strategy, we are happy to evaluate the shipment of the Covid-19 vaccines on board our aircraft and will promise to contribute to the best of our abilities."

Earlier, SpiceJet had announced its partnership with Om Logistics Limited and Snowman Logistics for movement of temperature-sensitive Covid-19 vaccine.

SpiceJet's cargo arm, SpiceXpress, had recently introduced a new specialised service called Spice Pharma Pro, which has the capability to transport extremely sensitive drugs, vaccines, blood samples and medicines in controlled temperatures ranging from -40°C to +25°C.

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