Domestic cargo operators such as Blue Dart, Spice jet and Indigo are operating cargo flights on commercial basis to deliver essential medical supplies throughout the country during the coronavirus crisis.
Spicejet operated 241 cargo flights covering 3,29,886 Kms and carrying 1,993 tons of cargo. Out of these, 175 were domestic cargo flights carrying 1401 tons.
As of 9 April, Spicejet operated 16 domestic flights covering 16,795 kms and carrying 133.80 essential medical supplies and other relief materials. The airline also operated 5 international flights carrying 53.77 tonnes of cargo and covering 13,316 kms.
On the other hand, Blue Dart operated 82 domestic cargo flights covering 79,916 Kms and carrying 1,270 tons of cargo. Whereas, Indigo has also operated 15 cargo flights covering 12,206 Kms and carrying 4.37 tons of cargo.
The essential medical supplies covered COVID-19 related reagents, enzymes, medical equipment, testing kits & PPE, masks, gloves & other accessories of HLL & cargo requisitioned by State/UT Governments and also postal packets.
Pawan Hans Ltd operated 5 cargo flights until 8th April 2020 carrying 1.07 tons of critical medical supplies to Guwahati, Agartala, Kishwar, Navapachi, Srinagar, Jammu (J&K), Nagpur, Aurangabad, covering distance of 3561 Kilometres.
On April 9 Air India and IAF collaboratively operated 13 flights. The airlines primarily collaborated for J&K, Ladakh, North-East and other island regions.
Further, Air India on 9 April 2020 brought 21.77 tons of medical equipment from Shanghai. Air India will be operating dedicated scheduled cargo flights to other countries for uplifting of critical medical equipment as per the requirement.
Over 180 flights have been operated under Lifeline UDAN during COVID-19 lockdown, out of which 114 flights were operated by Air India and Alliance Air. 58 Flights were operated by IAF.
