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Cargo: Keeping the vaccine on ice
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With the COVID-19 vaccines now starting to roll off the production line, one of the biggest challenges with transporting the vaccine is the ability to keep it stored at a temperature of -70°C.
Airports across the globe have readied themselves to help store and transport the vaccine. At Brussels Airport in Belgium (where the Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine is being made), Swissport has demonstrated its ability to handle highly temperature sensitive air cargo at its Brussels Pharma Center. This includes its knowledge in dry-ice handling to maintain the seamless transportation of the vaccine throughout the entire handling process.
Similarly at Frankfurt Airport in Germany Lufthansa Cargo is well prepared for the global distribution of the vaccine thanks to its ‘Cargo Cool Center’. Having recently expanded its ground infrastructure, in 2019 Lufthansa Cargo transported around 100,000 tons of pharmaceuticals. As of January, it is offering a premium service for its customers, specifically developed for the transport of the COVID-19 vaccines. This will include a high level of robust and personalised customer service and seamless monitoring of shipments throughout the entire process.
Meanwhile in the US, Gerald R. Ford International Airport (pictured), which is the closest hub to Pfizer’s Kalamazoo manufacturing operations in Michigan, USA, saw the first cargo aircraft carrying Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine depart on 13 December. It’s the first of tens of thousands of shipments that will deliver the life-saving vaccine from Michigan to locations across the US and around the world.
Commenting on how the roll out of the vaccine marks the beginning of the end to the global pandemic, Torrance Richardson, president and CEO at Ford Airport said: “Our continuing investment in infrastructure has ensured we are able to meet the demands of the aggressive delivery schedule. We train and prepare for this all year long to ensure we are ready for whatever challenges come our way.”
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Chloë Greenbank wrote her first airline magazine nearly two decades ago and has been immersed in aviation magazines ever since. She is a highly experienced editor and reporter who has worked for over a decade in the publishing sector specialising in the global aerospace industry. As senior editor at one of the world’s leading travel media companies, Ink, she was tasked with launching and overseeing various titles including two inflight magazines for Brussels Airlines. With a solid understanding of the inflight market, she has also contributed to magazines for airlines including easyJet, MyTravel, Thomas Cook, Virgin Express, Ryanair, British Mediterranean Airways, Air Burkina and Korongo Airlines. |
| In 2017 Chloe moved over to the B2B publishing industry when she joined HMG Aerospace for whom she edits Regional Gateway and contributes to a number of titles including LARA and Inflight. She also contributes to the Times Aerospace Group’s African Aerospace. Having strengthened her knowledge and understanding behind the global aviation community Chloe has been a working journalist on the Emerald Media team since early 2018, primarily supporting its client Air bp. | |
BlueSky Business Aviation News | 17th December 2020 | Issue #586
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