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SINGAPORE: Singapore Airlines (SIA) will prioritize cargo capacity to transport COVID-19 vaccines when they become available, the national carrier said on Saturday (December 5).
It will prepare seven Boeing 47-400 freighters for such operations, SIA said in a press release, adding that passenger jets will also be deployed where needed.
“SIA will make cargo space available on its flights and give higher priority to COVID-19 vaccine shipments through key vaccine trade routes,” the airline said.
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To ensure it is ready to ship COVID-19 vaccines, SIA said it has been “actively engaging” with various stakeholders throughout the supply chain and in pharmaceutical export markets over the past few months.
SIA has signed master lease agreements with key cold chain container suppliers to ensure the airline has access to enough temperature controlled containers to handle large volumes of vaccines.
The tracking devices have also been certified for use, the airline added, giving vaccine producers and their logistics service providers “complete end-to-end visibility and tracking of shipments (particularly temperature readings) throughout the entire year. trip”.
Moderna’s COVID vaccine, for example, must be transported and stored at -20 degrees Celsius. The Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine should be kept at -70 degrees Celsius and can be stored in a normal refrigerator for only five days.
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The airline noted that in the last financial year, SIA Cargo transported around 22,000 tons of pharmaceutical shipments through its network.
“Singapore’s geographic location, coupled with SIA’s extensive network connectivity and strong pharmaceutical handling capabilities at Singapore’s Changi Airport, positions it as a key transit hub for the transportation and distribution of pharmaceuticals.” added.
Mr. Chin Yau Seng, Singapore Airlines Senior Vice President of Cargo, described the transportation and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines as “one of the biggest and most important supply chain challenges of our generation.”
“SIA has a well-established record of safe and reliable transportation of critical pharmaceutical shipments,” he added.
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