• McKinsey expects limited doses of vaccines by the fourth quarter of 2020 and billions by the first quarter of 2021
• Limited doses will be available as early as 1st November 2020 in the U.S.
• Airlines are partnering up with pharmaceutical companies
• The list is here for special requirements for shipping vaccines

Is Air Cargo ready for Covid-19 vaccine launch?

Without any doubt, worldwide distribution of Covid-19 vaccines puts the global supply chain under enormous pressure and creates challenges that airlines have never faced before. TheInternational Air Cargo Association (TIACA)joined forces with Pharma.Areo to prepare the industry for Covid-19 vaccine distribution. Their aim is to connect all vaccine supply chain stakeholders and help them working together effectively and develop reliable end-to-end air transportation.

Airlines are forming new alliances

Air France KLM Martinair Cargo (AFKLMP) has formed a taskforce which is another concrete step forward to prepare for Covid-19 vaccine shipments. According to Global Cargo News, AFKLMP continues to prepare for shipping pharma and medical-related goods.

Image source: globalcargonews.com

Emirates Skycargo made an alliance with Alha CoolBox, an Italian pharma company in order to maintain their cool chain when transporting medical goods.

Why are vaccines so important for Air Cargo?

All airlines were forced to reduce their routes, cancelling millions of passenger flights across all continents. Over a hundred carriers were transformed into cargo-only aircraft to meet market requirements and generate revenue. But Covid-19 vaccines bring new dimensions to supply chain logistics.Here is what to consider about vaccine distribution according to theInternational Air Transport Association (IATA);

• High-value and sensitive products
• Require temperature-controlled environment
• Must follow EU Good Distribution Practices and US Federal Drug Administration requirements
• The need of trained and knowledgeable staff
• Dedicated equipment and infrastructure

What can forwarders do to prepare for Covid-19 vaccines?

Freight Forwarders should prepare for new regulations and renew their tools for ad-hoc changesin order to adapt to the upcoming challenges. At CargoAI we work hard to support both airlines and forwarders to find new ways via digital transformation. We give access worldwide to airline schedules and allow forwarders to bid for shipments in real time, without leaving the platform. You can try our fully digital Live Schedule and e-Purchasing within one simple platform for free. It is updated every day, so Freight Forwarders can find new routes and suitable shipment options within seconds. We want to help Air Cargo businesses in digital transformation! Click the button below and see how it works. You can also schedule a demo with us for Free afterwards!