‘Lifeline Udan’ flights are operated by MoCA in domestic sector to transport essential medical cargo to remote parts of the country to support India’s war against COVID-19.  All corona warriors- officers, staff and ground level workers along with key stakeholders continue to work with endless energy to support the fight against Covid-19.

               330 flights have been operated under Lifeline Udan by Air India, Alliance Air, IAF and private carriers. 200 of these flights have been operated by Air India and Alliance Air. Cargo transported till date is around 551.79 tons.  Aerial distance covered by Lifeline Udan flights till date is over 3,27,623km.

The date-wise breakup of the Lifeline Udan flights is as follows:

Helicopter services including Pawan Hans Ltd have been operating in J&K, Ladakh, Islands and North East region transporting critical medical cargo and patients. Pawan Hans till 21 April 2020 have carried 1.90 tons of cargo covering a distance of 6537kms. 

            The domestic Lifeline Udan cargo includes COVID-19 related reagents, enzymes, medical equipment, testing kits, Personal protective equipment (PPE), masks, gloves, other materials of HLL and ICMR; cargo requisitioned by State/UT Governments and postal packets etc

             Special focus has been on the North East Region, island territories and the hill states. Air India and IAF collaborated primarily for J&K, Ladakh, North-East and other    island regions.

               Domestic Cargo Operators SpiceJet, Blue Dart and Indigo are operating cargo flights on a commercial basis. Spicejet operated 447 cargo flights during 24 March to 21 April 2020 covering a distance of 7,12,323 km and carrying 3695 tons of cargo. Out of these 154 were international cargo flights. Blue Dart operated 160 domestic cargo flights covering a distance of 1,58,684 km and carrying 2573 tons of cargo during 25 March to 21 April 2020. Indigo has operated 35 cargo flights during 3-21 April 2020 covering a distance of 42,752 km and carrying around 84 tons of cargo and including 6 international flights.  This also includes medical supplies carried free of cost for the government.

International Sector-

               A cargo air-bridge has been established with East Asia for transportation of pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and Covid-19 relief material. The date-wise quantity of medical cargo brought in as follows:

      Air India operated its second flight between Mumbai and Frankfurt on 15 April 2020 under the KrishiUdan program, carrying 27 tons of seasonal fruits and vegetables to Frankfurt and returned with 10 tons of general cargo. Air India had operated first Krishi Udan flight between Mumbai and London on 13 April carrying 28.95 tons of fruits and vegetables to London and returned with15.6 Tons of general cargo material.

          Air India will operate dedicated scheduled cargo flights to other countries for transfer of critical medical supplies, as per the requirement. Air India operated first such flight on 15 April 2020 between Delhi-Seychelles-Mauritius-Delhi on 15 April 2020, carrying 3.4 tons to Seychelles and 12.6 tons to Mauritius of medical supplies.

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RJ/NG