With an extensive flight network and modern aircraft fleet, Emirates has been able to fly in vaccines from manufacturing locations to Dubai and then to developing markets who may not have adequate cold chain infrastructure required for storage of vaccines. Abdulla Al-Khallafi, Cargo Manager – India & Nepal, Emirates dwells on details of cool chain infrastructure.
Priyanshi Bana
Could you please share the details of your latest expansion of cool chain infrastructure at Dubai airport?
In October 2020, Emirates SkyCargo set up a dedicated GDP-certified airside hub at Dubai International Airport with over 20,000 sq. metres of EU GDP-certified cool chain infrastructure for storing and handling COVID-19 vaccines in Dubai.To further strengthen our temperature-sensitive pharma and vaccine handling capabilities in Dubai, we have now extended the fully automated cool room in the facility by adding 94 airline pallet positions. Through this extension, we have gained an additional 2,600 sq. metres of temperature-controlled environment (2-25° Celsius) required for the storage and handling of vaccines and other pharmaceuticals at the purpose-built GDP-certified facility in Dubai. With this new addition, we can hold an estimated 60-90 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines at one time. The additional capacity will not only help us maintain our position as an industry leader in the air transportation of pharmaceuticals, but also enable our Dubai hub to meet the growing demand for the transportation of COVID-19 vaccines in the region.
What challenges do you see in moving vaccines worldwide?
The transportation of vaccines is a sophisticated process that requires expertise, capabilities, and most importantly, capacity. At Emirates SkyCargo, an elaborate planning process ensures that these aspects are addressed so that the integrity of the vaccines is preserved throughout transportation. Vaccines need to be stored in controlled-temperature environments and these requirements vary depending upon the vaccines. Emirates SkyCargo has industry-leading capabilities in catering to the transportation requirements of most of the vaccine manufacturers. Our state-of-the-art GDP facility in Dubai; innovative thermal covers; and cool dollies, ensure that pharmaceuticals and vaccines are kept at optimum temperature throughout. Latest innovations in tracking and monitoring of the temperature, location, humidity, etc. of vaccines shipments is possible.
Capacity is also a crucial aspect of planning. The geographic location of our vaccine hub in Dubai is within only an 8-hour flying radius of more than two-thirds of the world’s population. With our hub in Dubai and our extensive flight network and modern aircraft fleet we are able to fly in vaccines from manufacturing locations to Dubai and then to developing markets who may not have adequate cold chain infrastructure required for storage of vaccines.
How has the COVID-19 impacted the pharmaceuticals industry?
The air cargo industry has been one of the most resilient and high-performing industries during the pandemic. Emirates SkyCargo is one of the first air cargo carriers to begin extensive preparations during the early stages of the pandemic for the transportation of essential commodities. We innovated by operating cargo-only passenger flights, mini-freighters and even loading cargo on overhead bins to maintain the supply of essential commodities including food, medicine, PPE kits and medical equipment across the world. The pandemic has revealed the importance of air freight and the quick transportation of lifesaving medicines and other essential commodities. This points to the need for continuous investment and innovation in providing solutions that meet the needs of our customers.
What is the volume of tonnage the airline has been carrying globally?
During 2020-21, we rapidly scaled up our global cargo operations and network to ensure the supply of essential commodities. To meet the strong demand that emerged across markets, we added 19 ‘mini freighters’ to our operations using modified 777-300ER passenger aircraft and introduced new loading protocols to safely carry cargo using overhead bins and passenger seats. When Emirates SkyCargo marked one year of passenger freighter operations earlier in March this year, we had completed over 27,800 cargo missions on passenger aircraft and carried 100,000 tonnes of essential supplies to people around the world. Within the first four months of 2020, we transported more than 4,000 tonnes of food, including fresh vegetables and fruits, from India to the UAE and, during the FY 20/21, Emirates SkyCargo helped exports of more than 25,000 tonnes of perishables from India to the rest of the world. We also moved 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines in total across the network.
What new initiatives does the airline plan to adopt?
Emirates SkyCargo’s EU GDP-certified airside distribution hub in Dubai is the world’s largest dedicated airside hub for the storage and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. It enables us to store large quantities of the COVID-19 vaccines in Dubai while transporting smaller quantities to markets that have limited cool chain infrastructure. The recent expansion of our airside facility is the latest step towards meeting a growing demand and ensuring a continuous supply of vaccines across the world.
Additionally, Emirates SkyCargo is part of many strategic initiatives to improve the global population’s accessibility to vaccines. Earlier this year, we signed an agreement with UNICEF to join the Humanitarian Airfreight Initiative under which we prioritise the transport of COVID-19 vaccines, essential medicines, medical devices and other critical supplies to more than 100 markets. The initiative supports the COVAX Facility – the global effort aimed at equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. Emirates SkyCargo is also part of the Dubai Vaccine Logistics Alliance, launched in January this year, to hasten the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines around the world, through Dubai.
What is your take on technology integration becoming crucial?
Emirates SkyCargo has continually invested in technologies, over the years, to cater to the evolving needs of our customers. These investments now enable us to maintain our leadership position in the air cargo transportation industry while catering to dynamic demands of the pandemic. Our investments in the cool chain ‘fit for purpose’ EU GDP-certified capabilities enable us to offer origin-to-destination temperature protection. For example, cool dollies help protect temperature-sensitive cargo during transit between the aircraft and cargo terminal.
Where do you see air cargo industry in five years?
Air cargo industry has gone through an important reinvention during 2020. We had never anticipated a situation where we would be using passenger aircraft uniquely for cargo and yet given the demand for transportation of vital commodities and the lack of capacity, we had to reinvent our business overnight. Our agile and responsive teams worked flat out over an extended period of time to make sure we received all the required approvals and to make sure that we had adequate safety guidelines in place. All of this required extensive coordination with various authorities, internal and external stakeholders. As an industry, air cargo will need to take lessons from what we experienced and continue to be much more agile and adapt quicker to changing circumstances.
