Dubai’s Emirates SkyCargo transports 600 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines

Emirates SkyCargo, the freight division of carrier Emirates, has announced that it has crossed a major milestone in the global distribution of Covid-19 vaccines with 600 million doses flown on its flights.

Since October 2020, the carrier has transported more than 2.8 million kilograms (2,800 tonnes) of Covid-19 vaccines from 35 origins to over 80 destinations.

“When we formulated our Covid-19 distribution strategy in 2020, Emirates SkyCargo prioritised the movement of Covid-19 vaccines through our Dubai hub to developing countries. I’m happy to announce that nearly two thirds of the total vaccines we transported were headed to destinations in Africa, Asia and the Middle East,” said Nabil Sultan, divisional senior vice president, Cargo, Emirates.

With the increasing roll-out of vaccination and booster campaigns across global markets, Emirates SkyCargo witnessed a steady increase in the demand for transportation of Covid-19 vaccines in the second half of 2021. In October and November 2021 alone, Emirates SkyCargo moved more than 200 million doses of vaccines, almost one third of the total vaccines transported by the carrier since the start of the pandemic.

Each Emirates SkyCargo flight carried seven million Covid-19 vaccine doses. The vaccines were distributed as follows; Asia (185 million doses), Africa (150 million doses) and the Middle East (70 million doses).

Moreover, Emirates SkyCargo’s GDP certified pharma terminal in Chicago has handled more than 160 million doses of vaccines flown from the US to countries around the world.

Earlier this year, Emirates SkyCargo signed an agreement with UNICEF to prioritise the transport of Covid-19 vaccines, essential medicines, medical devices and other critical supplies to help fight the pandemic.

Read: Emirates, Etihad ink agreements with UNICEF for transportation of Covid-19 vaccines

“Every single day counts in the fight against Covid-19 and the sooner that communities can have access to Covid-19 vaccines, the sooner they can curb the spread of the virus and get back on their feet,” Nabil Sultan, Emirates divisional senior vice president, Cargo had said then.

“As a global player flying to more than 130 destinations, Emirates SkyCargo has been committed to the fight against the pandemic from the very early stages and we have rolled out a number of initiatives to expedite the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines through Dubai, starting with our GDP certified dedicated airside hub. Through our partnership with UNICEF, we will be taking yet another step to prioritise and facilitate the rapid and secure movement of Covid-19 vaccines particularly to communities hard hit by the disease.”