The air cargo industry has been moving to transport urgent, life-saving medical supplies to India as it continues to grapple from a grave medical crisis with the onslaught of the second wave of Covid-19 in the world's second-most-populous country.

Cathay Pacific Cargo said it has been operating freighters and cargo-only passenger flights, delivering to date more than 100 tonnes of much-needed humanitarian and medical supplies to some of India’s major centres despite the suspension of passenger service between Hong Kong and India. 

It said these supplies include oxygen generators, oxygen concentrators and ventilators to Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad, for example, as well as oxygen, surgical masks, sanitiser, personal protective equipment, pharmaceuticals and vaccines.

FedEx Express said separately that it is working with organizations around the world to deliver critical medical supplies and equipment to assist the country in its fight against coronavirus — with an initial shipment of 1,000 critically needed oxygen concentrators delivered to New Delhi as part of a collective effort by companies to send the aid.

It is also working to move more than 1,800 pounds of medicine and PPEs in cooperation with non-profit group, Direct Relief.

“As the impact of Covid-19 continues to grow in India, we are extremely grateful that our mission of connecting the world can bring relief to those most in need,” said Kawal Preet, president, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa Region, FedEx Express. “This is a time to come together so we have mobilized our global network and our team members to help the communities in India where we live and work.”

Earlier this month, Qatar Airways Cargo said three of its B-777 freighters departed to India, carrying approximately 300 tonnes of medical supplies from around the world to support Covid-19 relief efforts bound for Bengaluru, Mumbai and New Delhi as part of Qatar Airways Cargo’s WeQare initiative.

The shipment included PPE equipment, oxygen canisters and other essential medical items, and consists of donations by individuals and companies around the world in addition to existing cargo orders.

"Having seen with great sorrow the impact this further wave of Covid-19 infections has had on people in India, we knew we had to be part of the global effort to support the valiant health care workers in the country," said Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar Al Baker.

"As the leading air cargo carrier in the world, we are in a unique position to offer immediate humanitarian support through the provision of aircraft to transport much needed medical supplies, as well as coordinating logistical arrangements."

Lufthansa Cargo also joined the efforts to support India's fight against the devasting second Covid-19 wave. It said that on three flights this week, a total of around 10 tons of medical equipment is on its way to India, with 280 oxygen concentrators, which concentrates oxygen from ambient air, being transported to Delhi alone.

"We see it as our responsibility to play our part in international aid. The dramatic situation in India shows how important it is to transport relief supplies quickly and easily to where they are urgently needed," said Lufthansa Cargo chief executive Dorothea von Boxberg said.

"That is why we at Lufthansa Cargo, together with the Lufthansa Group, are doing everything we can to maintain supply chains worldwide. This requires enormous flexibility on the part of our colleagues involved, good cooperation with our customers and decisive action on the part of international politicians, for example in special regulations for crews entering a country," she added.

United Cargo said it also helped facilitate the first shipment of ventilators from Chicago to Delhi. 

United noted that it welcomed its role in transporting these ventilators, donated by the US-India Chamber of Commerce DFW, to the Indian Red Cross. "This is the first of several efforts United will be taking to support India during this time of great need," it added.

SpiceXpress said it airlifted 1,000 oxygen concentrators from Hong Kong to Delhi utilising B-737 freighter aircraft and transported via Kolkata as more than 2,000 oxygen concentrators have been airlifted by SpiceJet over the last two weeks.

"Considering the current situation across the country, our focus is to airlift as many oxygen concentrators, BiPAPs and other medical devices as possible to cater to the increasing demand. We have airlifted more than 2,000 oxygen concentrators so far and we are looking at bringing about 20,000 oxygen concentrators in the coming days from across the globe," Ajay Singh, chairman and managing director, SpiceJet, commented.

Meanwhile, Emirates SkyCargo said it recently established a humanitarian airbridge between Dubai and India to transport urgent medical cargo and support the country’s fight against Covid-19. 

As part of the airbridge operations, Emirates SkyCargo is also offering available cargo capacity free of charge to nine cities in India.

The carrier has already transported medicines and medical equipment on scheduled and charter cargo flights to India.

"India and Emirates are deeply connected, since our first flights to India in 1985. We stand with the Indian people and will do all we can to help India get back on its feet. Emirates has a lot of experience in humanitarian relief efforts, and with 95 weekly flights to 9 destinations in India, we will be offering regular and reliable widebody capacity for relief materials," HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates’ chairman and chief executive, said.

"The International Humanitarian City in Dubai is the largest crisis relief hub in the world and we will work closely with them to facilitate the movement of urgent medical supplies," he added, noting that the first shipment sent as part of the Emirates India humanitarian airbridge is a consignment of over 12 tons of multi-purpose tents from the World Health Organization (WHO), destined for Delhi, and coordinated by the IHC in Dubai.