Governments must start preparing in advance for transporting billions of Covid-19 vaccine doses around the world, a massive and complex logistics task, or risk severe capacity constraints, the International Air Transport Association (Iata) warned.
Providing just a single dose of the vaccine to 7.8 billion people worldwide would fill more than 8,000 Boeing 747 cargo planes, Iata said, highlighting the enormous size of the deliveries once the vaccine is approved and available for distribution.
"We now turn our eyes to the next challenge, which is the role aviation could play in vaccinating the world," Glyn Hughes, Iata's global head of cargo, told reporters in an online press conference. "If there [are] multiple doses ... then you can see that there will be a considerable burden on the aviation sector to help play a role in transporting these critical commodities around the planet."
Safely delivering the vaccines will be "the mission of the century" for the global air cargo industry and requires careful planning now by governments and the vaccine manufacturers, Alexandre de Juniac, Iata's director general said in a statement on Wednesday.
"We urge governments to take the lead in facilitating co-operation across the logistics chain so that the facilities, security arrangements and border processes are ready for the mammoth and complex task ahead," Mr de Juniac said.
Among the key challenges will be transporting the vaccine, a highly sensitive product, at a temperature ranging from 2 degrees Celsius to 8 degrees Celsius. It is a difficult task considering the temperature changes between airports, onboard a plane, on arrival and during local distribution.
"It is critical when moving something as sensitive as that, that the right facilities are in place," Mr Hughes said.
If the vaccine requires transportation in a frozen state, in addition to the scale of the distribution, then the magnitude of the challenge makes it clear that preparation is needed in advance, he said.
Key considerations include border procedures that ensure fast processing times, adequate security measures, adequate staffing, appropriate handling and customs clearance, Iata said.
Vaccines are a valuable commodity, so theft, loss and tampering are also a concern, meaning security of transportation is crucial.
Governments need to work with each other to ensure a harmonised reopening of borders, Mr Hughes said.
"There would be some form of global airlift needed," he said, referring to the transportation of millions of tiny vials of vaccine. Given the scale of production and the time required to manufacture vaccines on a large scale, shipments are likely to be phased, he said.
Agencies such as the WHO and other relevant UN bodies would identify and devise a distribution mechanism for vaccines, Mr Hughes said.
However, capacity constraints facing the air cargo industry remain a major concern in planning vaccine transportation programmes.
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Tonnes of medical equipment and coronavirus testing kits provided bt the World Health Organisation are pictured at the al-Maktum International airport in Dubai as it is prepared to be delivered to Iran with a United Arab Emirates military transport plane. AFP -
A handout picture released by the World Health Organization (WHO), shows people disembarking from a United Arab Emirates military transport plane, used to transport medical equipment and coronavirus testing kits provided by the World Health Organisation, upon their arrival in Iran. AFP -
Boxes of masks, gloves, protective suits, tablet computers and other devices to monitor cases are made ready for the flight to Tehran on Monday. Andy Scott / The National -
The World Health Organisation stockpiles much of its global supply in Dubai but said it is struggling to get access to enough. Panic buying of masks by members of the public has led to shortages for medical staff, who must change their masks and clothing frequently. Andy Scott / The National -
WHO team leader Robert Blanchard supervises the shipment on Monday. Nick Webster / The National -
A pharmacist wearing a face mask works in western Tehran on Saturday. Iran is preparing for the possibility of "tens of thousands" of people needing to be getting tested. Vahid Salemi / AP Photo -
An Iranian medical team uses disinfectant to sanitise vehicles near Imam Reza's holy shrine. West Asia News Agency via Reuters -
Wheelchairs are sprayed with disinfectant at Imam Reza's holy shrine. West Asia News Agency via Reuters -
A handout picture released by the World Health Organization (WHO) shows labourers unloading medical equipment and coronavirus testing kits provided by the World Health Organisation, from a United Arab Emirates military transport plane upon their arrival in Iran. AFP -
Tonnes of medical equipment and coronavirus testing kits provided bt the World Health Organisation are pictured at the al-Maktum International airport in Dubai as it is prepared to be delivered to Iran with a United Arab Emirates military transport plane. AFP
"Even if we assume that half the needed vaccines can be transported by land, the air cargo industry will still face its largest single transport challenge ever," Mr de Juniac said. "If borders remain closed, travel curtailed, fleets grounded and employees furloughed, the capacity to deliver life-saving vaccines will be very much compromised."
Air cargo, considered one of the least glamourous aspects of flying, is emerging as one of the few bright spots for global airlines amid the gloomy reality imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Air freight demand is much more robust than passenger services, recording a 13 per cent decline year-on-year, compared to an 80 per cent annual decline for passenger traffic in July, Iata said.
The industry is "entering a reasonably positive environment" for air cargo demand, driven by higher export orders, Iata chief economist Brian Pearce said in the conference.
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'Beast of the skies' delivering vital medical supplies around the globe
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An Antonov AN225 aircraft carrying medical supplies arrives in Toronto, on Saturday, May 30, 2020. The Canadian Press via AP -
An Antonov An-225 aircraft carrying medical supplies arrives in Toronto on Saturday, May 30, 2020. The Canadian Press via AP -
Workers unload a shipment of medical supplies from an Antonov AN-225 Mriya aircraft at Toronto Pearson International Airport. Bloomberg -
Workers unload a shipment of medical supplies. Bloomberg -
A worker unloads a shipment of medical supplies. Bloomberg -
People watch as the Antonov AN-225 Mriya aircraft lands. Bloomberg -
Nothing matches the AN-225 when it comes to handling outsize and exceptionally heavy payloads. Bloomberg -
"In moving large supplies of emergency equipment, military needs and other machinery, the AN-225 is unbeatable." Bloomberg -
Workers unload a shipment of medical supplies from an Antonov AN-225 Mriya aircraft at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on Saturday, May 30, 2020. Bloomberg -
The beast of the skies lands in Canada. In the past week it has flown from Montreal in eastern Canada to Anchorage in the US state of Alaska before taking off for an 11-hour flight to Tianjin, China. Bloomberg -
While the aircraft is playing an important role during the pandemic, it is unlikely more will be made given its infrequent use at other times. Bloomberg -
People watch as the Antonov AN-225 Mriya aircraft lands in Toronto. Bloomberg -
Three engines are seen on the wing of the Antonov AN-225 Mriya aircraft. Bloomberg -
The Mriya (which means "dream" in Ukrainian) entered commercial service in 2001 and was originally developed to transport the Energiya carrier-rocket and Buran space shuttle. Bloomberg -
It is scheduled to continue flying until at least 2033. Bloomberg -
It's statistics include a maximum payload of 250,000kg, a wingspan of 88m and total length of 84m. That means you can even slot a helicopter or haulage lorry inside. -
The next biggest commercial airliner is the Boeing 747-8F, which handles up to 150 tonnes. Bloomberg
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In the next couple of months, air cargo will see volumes improve from the 13 per cent decline in July, he said.
For airlines, this means that their cargo business is becoming increasingly important, partially offsetting the collapse in passenger revenue, but not enough to come to their rescue, he said.
Despite the demand recovery, there is a cargo capacity shortage due to the grounding of passenger planes, particularly widebodies, which usually carry 50 per cent of shipments.
