New Delhi: 422 flights have been operated under Lifeline Udan by Air India, Alliance Air, IAF, and private carriers. 244 of these flights have been operated by Air India and Alliance Air. Cargo transported to date is around 790.22 tons. Aerial distance covered by Lifeline Udan flights to date is over 4,13,538 km.‘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.
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 May 1 has carried 2.03 tons of cargo covering a distance of 7,529 km. A 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.
Domestic Cargo Operators SpiceJet, Blue Dart, and Indigo are operating cargo flights on a commercial basis. Spicejet operated 734 cargo flights from March 24 to May 1 covering a distance of 12,77,213 km and carrying 5,320 tons of cargo. Out of these,270 were international cargo flights. Blue Dart operated 245 cargo flights covering a distance of 2,67,417 km and carrying 4,179tons of cargo from March 25 to May 1. Out of these, 12 were international cargo flights. Indigo has operated 82 cargo flights from 3 April to 1 May 2020 covering a distance of 1,36,060 km and carrying around 393tons of cargo and including 27 international flights. This also includes medical supplies carried free of cost for the government. Vistara has operated 20 cargo flights from April 19 to May 1 covering a distance of 28,590 km and carrying around 139 tons of cargo.
In the International Sector, a cargo air-bridge was established with East Asia for transportation of pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, and Covid-19 relief material. The quantity of medical cargo brought in by Air India is 842 tons. In addition to the above, Blue Dart has uplifted around 114 tons of medical supplies from Guangzhou and Shanghai starting April 14 up to May 1. Spicejet has also uplifted204 tons of medical supplies from Shanghai and Guangzhou upto1 May 2020 and 16 tons medical supplies from Hong Kong and Singapore up to May 1.
SOURCE: NSS
