392 flights have been operated under Lifeline Udan by Air India, Alliance Air, IAF and private carriers. 229 of these flights have been operated by Air India and Alliance Air.  Cargo transported till date is around 736.00 tons.  Aerial distance covered by Lifeline Udan flights till date is over 3,89,100 km. ‘Lifeline Udan’ flights are being operated by MoCA to transport essential medical cargo to remote parts of the country to support India’s war against COVID-19. 

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

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 608 cargo flights during 24 March to 26 April 2020 covering a distance of 10,69,071 km and carrying 4,428 tons of cargo. Out of these,216 were international cargo flights. Blue Dart operated 211 cargo flights covering a distance of 2,28,085 km and carrying 3,481tons of cargo during 25 March to 26 April 2020. Out of these, 10 were international cargo flights. Indigo has operated 50 cargo flights during 3-26 April 2020 covering a distance of 77,996 km and carrying around 185tons of cargo and including 17 international flights.  This also includes medical supplies carried free of cost for the government. Vistara has operated 12 cargo flights during 19-26 April 2020 covering a distance of 16,952 km and carrying around 82 tons of cargo.

International Sector- A cargo air-bridge was established with East Asia for transportation of pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and Covid-19 relief material. The date-wise quantity of medical cargo brought in by Air India is as follows:

In addition to the above, Blue Dart has uplifted around 109 tons of medical supplies from Guangzhou starting 14 April upto 26^th April 2020. Blue Dart has also uplifted 5 tons of medical cargo from Shanghai on 25^th April 2020. Spicejet has also uplifted 140 tons of medical supplies from Shanghai upto 26^th April 2020 and 13 tons medical supplies from Hong Kong and Singapore upto 25^th April 2020.

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RJ/NG