Emirates SkyCargo has released figures showing that it has flown some 150 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines through Dubai. The freight division of Emirates has played a crucial role in the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines from manufacturing locations to destinations around the world, particularly to developing countries.
Some of the key highlights of Emirates SkyCargo‘s vaccine transportation include:
- More than 600 tonnes of vaccines transported on Emirates aircraft, the equivalent of 150 million doses
- Covid-19 vaccines flown to more than 80 destinations across six continents
- More than 3,500 packages vaccines transported
- Six different Covid-19 vaccines transported
Emirates SkyCargo is a global leader in the air transportation of temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals and has dedicated GDP-certified infrastructure at its Dubai hub for handling this category of product. Even during the height of the pandemic, the carrier flew close to 200 tonnes of pharmaceuticals every day on its flights.
In January last year, Emirates SkyCargo joined hands with DP World, International Humanitarian City and Dubai Airports to form the Dubai Vaccine Logistics Alliance aimed at rapidly transporting Covid-19 vaccines through Dubai to developing countries. This was shortly followed up in February 2020 with an MoU with UNICEF to expedite the transportation of Covid vaccines under the COVAX initiative.
Emirates SkyCargo released the statement today to commemorate the anniversary of Louis Pasteur administering the first attenuated vaccine to a human patient on 6 July 1885.
In June, Emirates SkyCargo revealed that it was extending its fully-automated cool room with 94 airline pallet positions at its EU GDP-certified pharma facility at Dubai International Airport.
The extended cool room will provide an additional 2,600 square metres of temperature-controlled environment (2-25 degrees Celsius) for the storage and handling of vaccines and other pharmaceuticals at Emirates SkyCargo’s purpose-built facility.
According to the carrier, the new extension can hold an estimated 60-90 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines at any one time.
