COVID 19: 132 Lifeline UDAN flights have moved 184-ton medical supplies

• Medical supplies of more than 184 tons have been delivered during the lockdown period through these flights

• Air India and Air Alliance operated the largest number of flights under Lifeline UDAN — 86

New Delhi: Under the government's Lifeline UDAN initiative, 132 cargo flights have been operated till date across the country by Air India, Alliance Air, IAF (Indian Air Force) and private airlines to transport medical cargo to various parts of India, including remote and hilly areas. So far, medical supplies of more than 184 tons have been delivered during the lockdown period through these flights, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said on Monday.

Air India and IAF have collaborated and operated flights to Ladakh, Kargil, Dimapur, Imphal, Guwahati, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Jammu, Kargil, Leh, Srinagar, Chandigarh and Port Blair.

Air India & Alliance Air operated the most number of Lifeline UDAN flights

The data released by the government showed that Air India and Air Alliance operated the largest number of flights under Lifeline UDAN — 86 — followed by the IAF at 38. While private airline IndiGo operated six flights under Lifeline UDAN, SpiceJet commissioned two. The total stands at 132.

An air bridge between Shanghai and Delhi has been established, the ministry said. "First cargo flight of Air India operated on April 4 and has brought 21 tons of medical equipment. Air India will be operating dedicated scheduled cargo flights to China for uplifting of critical medical equipment as per the requirement," the release added.

Domestic cargo operators operating cargo flights on commercial basis

Domestic cargo operators Blue Dart, Spicejet and Indigo are also operating cargo flights on commercial basis. Spicejet operated 174 cargo flights between March 24 and April 5, covering a distance of 2,35,386 Km, carrying 1382.94 tons of cargo. Out of these, 49 were international cargo flights. Blue Dart operated 52 domestic cargo flights, covering a distance of 50,086 Kms and carrying 760.73 tons of cargo between March 25 and April 4.  Indigo has also operated eight cargo flights on April 3-4, covering a distance of 6,103 Kms and carrying 3.14 tons of cargo.

The airlines in the country have suspended passenger flights till April 15 in the wake of the lockdown imposed to curb the spread of Coronavirus. The airlines have only been operating cargo flights.