452 flights operated under Lifeline Udan during Covid-19 lockdown period

452 flights have been operated under Lifeline Udan by Air India, Alliance Air, IAF and private carriers. 272 of these flights have been operated by Air India and Alliance Air. Cargo transported till date is around 824.44 tons. Aerial distance covered by Lifeline Udan flights till date is over 4,41,564 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.

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 4 May 2020 have carried 2.27 tons of cargo covering a distance of 7,729 kms. 

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, Indigo and Vistara are operating cargo flights on a commercial basis. Spicejet operated 796 cargo flights during 24 March to 4 May 2020 covering a distance of 13,61,141 km and carrying 5,817 tons of cargo. Out of these, 290 were international cargo flights. Blue Dart operated 266 cargo flights covering a distance of 2, 94, 928 km and carrying 4,522 tons of cargo during 25 March to 4 May 2020. Out of these, 13 were international cargo flights. Indigo has operated 90 cargo flights during 3 April to 4 May 2020 covering a distance of 1, 50, 803 km and carrying around 444 tons of cargo and including 34 international flights. This also includes medical supplies carried free of cost for the government. Vistara has operated 22 cargo flights during 19 April to 4 May 2020 covering a distance of 30,614 km and carrying around 144 tons of cargo. 

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 956 tons.

In addition to the above, Blue Dart has uplifted medical supplies of around 114 tons from Guangzhou and Shanghai and 24 tons from Hong Kong, starting 14 April upto 4 May 2020. Spicejet has also uplifted 204 tons of medical supplies from Shanghai and Guangzhou upto 4 May 2020 and 16 tons medical supplies from Hong Kong and Singapore upto 4 May 2020.

Courtesy: pib.gov.in