Emirates SkyCargo has found a way to improve its readiness
when it comes to distributing a potential coronavirus vaccine globally.The
cargo airline has announced that it will create a dedicated airside cargo hub
for vaccines in Dubai, which will be the first time that any such thing has
been created.
By carrying out this one of a kind initiative, the company
aims to take a leadership position among the cargo services world wide. It will
be reopening its Emirates SkyCentral DWX cargo terminal to simplify the
logistical complexities during the pandemic. The terminal will be set-up in
Dubai South which will essentially be serving as a dedicated anchor hub for
cold chain storage and distribution vaccine.
To handle things smoothly, the freight division of
Emirates has set up a dedicated rapid response team which will be coordinating
requests from various partners. To make it more specific and hasself free, the
partners who are involved in the international vaccine distribution ecosystem
will be availing the benefits of this rapid response team. With this, the
service aims to streamline the carrier’s response to vaccine transportation
requests.
H.H, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, who is the chairman
and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group also expresses his views on the
initiative and said, Dubai is well positioned to serve as a gateway and
distribution hub for COVID-19 vaccines to the rest of the world. We have the
infrastructure and logistics connections, and a geographic location that puts
markets representing more than two-thirds of the world’s population within an
8-hour flying radius.”
“Over the years, through our continuous investment in
capabilities and processes for the transport of temperature sensitive
pharmaceuticals, Emirates SkyCargo has managed to position Dubai amongst major
global pharmaceutical customers as the year-round preferred point of transit
for their valuable cargo. Setting up a dedicated airside hub for COVID-19 vaccines
is a keystone project harnessing our network, reach and competencies to
positively impact the lives of people around the world,” Maktoum added.
This facility that is being created by the EMirates
SkyCargo will be the largest airside facility in the world for Covid-19
vaccines. Through Dubai hub, activities like bringing in vaccines from
manufacturing sites globally, storing and preparing shipments for regional and
global distribution will be done.
According to an estimate, this facility can hold upto 10
million vials of vaccine at a 2-8 degree celsius temperature range and one
point of time. The GDP certified area under Emirates SkyCargo is over 4,000
square metres, which is enough and more space for the vaccine to be stored.
This facility will be further complemented by the world's
largest fleet of Cool Dollys that will be used in helping to protect
temperature sensitive cargo during transit between the aircraft and cargo
terminal. And apart from that, rapid and efficient clearance of cargo for
further distribution will be ensured by temperature controlled trucking docks
and the proximity of the terminal to the aircraft parking gates.
The unit offers extensive size that will be potentially
handling millions oF vaccine doses and along with that it can also handle
craeton of dedicated teams to execute requests that are being brought by to the
facility. There will be a combination of scheduled and charter flights that
will ensure that the vaccines are being sent to the places where it is most
needed.
The cargo service stepping up and establishing a dedicated
facility will be a huge boost as far as vaccine distribution is concerned
because the service is known to have decades of experience in transporting
temperature controlled pharmaceutical products and vaccines for global
manufacturers to develop innovative solutions.
The last few months, the
cargo service has especially worked hard in restoring its worldwide network and
cargo connectivity with flight services restored to 75 destinations by May, 100
by July and nearly 135 destinations by early October. Emirates SkyCargo takes
care of all the major pharmaceutical clusters and manufacturing locations which
will make it easy to transport the Covid-19 vaccine manufacturing commences.
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