748.68 tons of essential cargo transported under Lifeline Udan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 28

The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Tuesday said 403 flights had been operated under Lifeline Udan in the domestic sector and 748.68 tons of essential and medical supplies were delivered across the country till April 27.  

The Ministry of Civil Aviation, in a statement, mentioned that 235 of these flights were operated by Air India and Alliance Air.

Flights under Lifeline Udan initiative are being operated by the Ministry of Civil Aviation to transport essential medical cargo to remote parts of the country to support India’s war against COVID-19.

Private operators SpiceJet, Blue Dart, Indigo and Vistara are operating cargo flights on a commercial basis.  

“SpiceJet operated 633 cargo flights till April 27, covering a distance of 11,09,028km and carrying 4,637 tons of cargo. Out of these, 228 were international cargo flights,” said the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

“Blue Dart operated 219 cargo flights, covering a distance of 2,38,928km and carried 3,636 tons of cargo till Monday. Of these, 10 were international cargo flights,” the Ministry informed.

It further stated that Indigo operated 50 cargo flights, including 17 international flights, during this period. The airlines covered a distance of 77,996km and carried around 185 tons of cargo. “This also includes medical supplies carried free of cost for the government,” pointed the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Vistara has operated 14 cargo flights covering a distance of 20,466km and carrying around 113 tons of cargo.

In international sector, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said, 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 609 tons.

Blue Dart has brought around 109 tons of medical supplies from Guangzhou between April 14 and 27, while SpiceJet brought 140 tons of medical supplies from Shanghai till April 27. The carrier also brought 13 tons of medical supplies from Hong Kong and Singapore.