Lifeline Udan flights operated by Air India, IAF and Vistara carried Cargo load of 35.78 tons on 22nd April 2020. 339 flights have been operated under Lifeline Udan till date by Air India, Alliance Air, IAF and private carriers in domestic sector supporting fight against Covid-19. 204 of these flights have been operated by Air India and Alliance Air. Cargo transported till date is around 587.57 tons. Aerial distance covered by Lifeline Udan flights till date is over 3,37,639km. ‘Lifeline Udan’ flights are being operated by MoCA to transport essential medical cargo to remote parts of the country to support India’s war against COVID-19.
Special focus has been on the North East Region, island territories and the hill states. Air India and IAF collaborated primarily for J&K, Ladakh, North-East and other island regions. Helicopter services including Pawan Hans Ltd have been operating in J&K, Ladakh, Islands and North East region transporting critical medical cargo and patients. Pawan Hans till 22 April 2020 have carried 1.90 tons of cargo covering a distance of 6537kms.
The domestic Lifeline Udan cargo includes COVID-19 related reagents, enzymes, medical equipment, testing kits, Personal protective equipment (PPE), masks, gloves, other materials of HLL and ICMR; cargo requisitioned by State/UT Governments and postal packets etc.
Domestic Cargo Operators SpiceJet, Blue Dart and Indigo are operating cargo flights on a commercial basis. Spicejet operated 495 cargo flights during 24 March to 22 April 2020 covering a distance of 7,46,219 km and carrying 3837 tons of cargo. Out of these, 166 were international cargo flights. Blue Dart operated 169 cargo flights covering a distance of 1,68,396 km and carrying 2749 tons of cargo during 25 March to 22 April 2020. Out of these, 2 were international cargo flights. Indigo has operated 35 cargo flights during 3-22 April 2020 covering a distance of 42,752 km and carrying around 84 tons of cargo and including 6 international flights. This also includes medical supplies carried free of cost for the government.
The total quantity of medical cargo brought in by Air India from East Asia from 4th April 2020 till date is 348 tons. A cargo air-bridge was established with East Asia for transportation of pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and Covid-19 relief material. Air India will operate dedicated scheduled cargo flights to other countries for transfer of critical medical supplies, as per the requirement.
