Page 40 - World Airnews Magazine October Edition 2020

IATA

THE TIME TO

PREPARE IS NOW

COVID-19 vaccine,” said Dr Seth Berkley, The potential size of the delivery is

CEO of Gavi the Vaccine Alliance. enormous. Just providing a single dose to

he International Air Transport On top of the transport preparations 7.8 billion people would fill 8,000 747 cargo

TAssociati on (IATA) has urged and co-ordination needed, governments aircraft. Land transport will help, especially
in developed economies with local manu-
governments to begin careful planning must also consider the current diminished facturing capacity. But vaccines cannot be
cargo capacity of the global air transport
with industry stakeholders to ensure full industry. delivered globally without the significant

preparedness when vaccines for COVID-19 IATA warned that, with the severe use air cargo.

are approved and available for distribution. downturn in passenger traffic, airlines have “Even if we assume that half the needed

The association also warned of potential- downsized networks and put many aircraft vaccines can be transported by land, the

ly severe capacity constraints in transport- into remote long-term storage. The global air cargo industry will still face its largest

ing vaccines by air. route network has been reduced dramati- single transport challenge ever. In planning

“Safely delivering COVID-19 vaccines will cally from the pre-COVID 24,000 city pairs. their vaccine programmes, particularly in

be the mission of the century for the global The WHO, UNICEF and Gavi have already the developing world, governments must
air cargo industry. But it won’t happen reported severe difficulties in maintaining take very careful consideration of the limit-

without careful advance planning. And the their planned vaccine programmes during ed air cargo capacity that is available at the

time for that is now. We urge governments the COVID-19 crisis due, in part, to limited moment. If borders remain closed, travel
to take the lead in facilitating coopera- air connectivity. curtailed, fleets grounded and employees

tion across the logistics chain so that the “The whole world is eagerly awaiting a furloughed, the capacity to deliver life-sav-

facilities, security arrangements and border safe COVID vaccine. It is incumbent on all ing vaccines will be very much compro-
processes are ready for the mammoth and of us to make sure that all countries have mised,” said de Juniac.
complex task ahead,” said IATA director safe, fast and equitable access to the initial On top of the transport preparations and

general and CEO Alexandre de Juniac. doses when they are available. As the lead co-ordination needed, governments must

“Delivering billions of doses of vaccine agency for the procurement and supply of also consider the current diminished cargo

to the entire world efficiently will involve the COVID vaccine on behalf of the COVAX capacity of the global air transport industry.

hugely complex logistical and programmat- Facility, UNICEF will be leading what could IATA warned that, with the severe
ic obstacles all the way along the supply possibly be the world’s largest and fastest downturn in passenger traffic, airlines have

chain. We look forward to working together operation ever. The role of airlines and downsized networks and put many aircraft

with government, vaccine manufacturers international transport companies will be into remote long-term storage. The global

and logistical partners to ensure an effi- critical to this endeavour,” said Henrietta route network has been reduced dramati-

cient global roll-out of a safe and affordable Fore, UNICEF executive director. cally from the pre-COVID 24,000 city pairs.

World Airnews | October 2020
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