New Delhi: A total of 465 flights have been operated under Lifeline UDAN by Air India, Alliance Air, IAF (Indian Air Force) and private carriers. And 278 of these flights have been operated by Air India and Alliance Air. Cargo transported till date is around 835.94 tons and the aerial distance covered by Lifeline UDAN flights till date is over 4,51,038 km, said the Ministry of Civil Aviation on Wednesday. 'Lifeline UDAN' flights are being operated by the Civil Aviation Ministry to transport essential medical cargo to all parts of the country, including remote and hilly areas 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 has carried 2.27 tons of cargo, covering a distance of 7,729 kms, as on May 5. 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 819 cargo flights covering a distance of 13,83,854 km and carrying 5,946 tons of cargo. Out of these, 294 were international cargo flights. Blue Dart operated 278 cargo flights, covering a distance of 3,09,272 km and carrying 4,683 tons of cargo. Out of these, 14 were international cargo flights. Indigo has operated 95 cargo flights, covering a distance of 1,59,158 km and carrying around 470 tons of cargo. This includes 38 international flights. This also includes medical supplies carried free-of-cost for the government.
Vistara has operated 23 cargo flights covering a distance of 32,321 km and carrying around 150 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 972 tons. Blue Dart has uplifted medical supplies of around 114 tons from Guangzhou and Shanghai and 24 tons from Hong Kong, starting April 14 upto May 5. Spicejet has also uplifted 204 tons of medical supplies from Shanghai and Guangzhou upto May 5 and 16 tons medical supplies from Hong Kong and Singapore upto May 5.