The aviation industry continues to support India in its fight against the second wave of coronavirus in the country with the delivery of life-saving aid.
This week, a Boeing 747 freighter carrying 50 tonnes of urgently-needed Covid-19 relief aid from California's San Bernardino Airport, including life-saving oxygen machines, will arrive in New Delhi to support India's efforts to help victims of coronavirus — coordinated by nonprofit Another Joy Foundation.
The full cost of routing the 747-400 freight via India will be borne by Sky One FZE, a full-service provider for aircraft leasing, charters, and support services, based in Sharjah.
It noted that other industry players that helped make the relief flight possible include Boeing, FedEx, Regional One, JetTest, UNICAL, Ascent MRO, and San Bernardino Airport, which have joined hands and resources to arrange the airlift of relief aid valued at US$2.5 million.
Earlier, other air cargo industry players announced that they are flying life-saving medical supplies and equipment to India, as the country continues to fight the second wave of Covid -19 infections.
Airlines transport aid to India
On June 14, FedEx Express said it donated a third charter flight to transport face coverings from Memphis to Mumbai. On May 24, IAG Cargo also announced teaming up with Oxfam, Khalsa Aid, and Christian Aid to deliver 5,000 items of medical supplies, amounting to a weight of 18 tonnes, to India.
Air Canada Cargo said on May 19 that it is supporting India's relief efforts by operating a Boeing 787-9 cargo-only flight to Delhi from Toronto Pearson Airport carrying 40 tons of freight including critical medical equipment such as oxygen cylinders, oxygen generators, and PPEs.
Antonov Airlines said on May 17 that it has moved 70 tonnes of oxygen concentrators from Tel Aviv to Delhi. On the same day, Oman Air also said it activated an emergency cargo lift initiative to help transport critical medical supplies to India.
Earlier on May 14, India's own SpiceXpress said it has airlifted around 55,000 oxygen concentrators and Covid-19 relief goods in just over three weeks from the US, Singapore, and China.
Russian freighter operator Volga-Dnepr Airlines has also operated three charter flights from China, Ireland, and Germany, to India to transport more than 200 tonnes of medical equipment to support India.
On May 12, Emirates SkyCargo said it has established a humanitarian airbridge between Dubai and India to transport urgent medical cargo — and offered available cargo capacity free of charge to nine cities in India.
India’s healthcare system is currently facing a strain with almost 25 million infections recorded to date, averaging 340,000 new infections and over 4,000 Covid-19 related deaths daily.
