COVID-19: SpiceJet aircraft reaches Delhi with medical supplies from China

A SpiceJet aircraft landed at Delhi's IGI airport on Friday night, bringing COVID-19 medical supplies from China. It was the first Indian carrier to operate a cargo-on-seat flight on April 7, 2020.

New Delhi: A SpiceJet freighter flight landed at the IGI airport here with COVID-19 medical supplies from Shanghai on Friday night.

"SpiceJet freighter SG 7017 carrying COVID-19 medical supplies from Shanghai, China landed in Delhi late last night. The aircraft carried approximately 18 tons of medical and emergency supplies," said SpiceJet.

SpiceJet was the first Indian carrier to operate a cargo-on-seat flight on April 7, 2020. The airline has now deployed both its B737 and Q400 passenger aircraft to ferry carry cargo in the passenger cabin and it has operated close to 522 cargo flights since the lockdown began carrying more than 3,993 tons of cargo.

According to Civil Aviation Ministry, Lifeline UDAN has till now transported 649 tons of supplies on 368 flights across 3,63,819 kms. Along with Air India, private carriers like IndiGo and Blue Dart also flew some medical cargo flights on a commercial basis.

A cargo air-bridge was established between India and China for transportation of pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and COVID-19 relief material.

Read:|Ex-Assam minister, Bihar Guv Devanand Konwar passes away