Korean Air became one of the first airlines in Korea to transport an important COVID-19 vaccine ingredient.

Korean Air said on December 8 it transported the ingredient for COVID-19 vaccine on Korean Air flight 925 to Amsterdam.

The vaccine ingredient was transported by Korean Air to the final destination, a vaccine production plant in Europe. Temperatures were maintained below -60 °C throughout the transportation process, the air carrier said.

"The COVID-19 vaccines require a cold chain that provides temperature-controlled environments during transportation and storage. The range of required temperature varies by product type such as cryogenic temperatures below -60°C; refrigeration below -20°C;  and temperature maintenance between 2 and 8°C, it added.

Korean Air’s COVID-19 vaccine transport task force, launched in September, has been preparing for cryogenic temperature transportation of COVID-19 vaccines.

COVID vaccine transport

“Korean Air’s task force is reviewing all aspects concerning the vaccine’s transport, and we are developing a strong system and infrastructure for its safe and swift distribution,” said EUM Jae Dong, senior vice president and head of cargo Business Division at Korean Air.

"Korean Air Cargo has a proven expertise in transporting  pharmaceutical items, and we were certified by IATA's Center of Excellence for Independent Validators on Pharmaceutical Handling (CEIV Pharma) last June, a certification for the excellence in air transport of medicines," he added. 

Korean Air has been actively transporting emergency freight during the COVID-19 pandemic including medical equipment and personal protection equipment (PPE).

In particular, Korean Air has been shipping test kits around the world and is increasing its capacity to deliver supplies by operating passenger jets for cargo-only flights and removing seats on passenger aircraft.