Delhi Airport has been proactively working as a frontline warrior in fight against COVID-19 pandemic since beginning.
Right from initial movement of vaccines in January 2021, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), has remained in the forefront, working closely with the Government of India and other stakeholders to set-up and implement expeditious processes at the Airport to handle COVID-19 cargo consignments.
It emerges as hub airport for handling and distribution of COVID-19 related aids including vaccines, oxygen concentrator, medical equipment and other medicines, at a time, when India is gasping for oxygen and several countries extending helping hands to India.
Now it is contributing to India’s ongoing fight against the second wave of the pandemic by ensuring efficient and swift handling and distribution of medical aid being received from across the world, with active support from its stakeholders.
Further, to ensure swift distribution of imported relief materials, Delhi Airport has set up a 3,500 sq. meters of dedicated logistic facility, JEEVODAY warehouse, for interim storage and distribution of COVID-19 relief materials. The facility was commissioned in less than a day on April 28th, 2021. All the COVID-19 relief material are brought to JEEVODAY warehouse after Customs clearance, where they are sorted and further distributed to other parts of the country by GOI Agency M/s. HLL as per distribution plan. Distribution is done immediately after it is brought to the warehouse.
In a span of just 5 days – April 28 to May 2 – Delhi airport has handled around 25 COVID relief flights totaling around 300 tonnes cargo, originating from various countries like the US, United Kingdom, UAE, Uzbekistan, Thailand, Germany, Qatar, Hong Kong, China etc.
Most of the relief flights were supported by Air Force aircrafts which included IL76, C-130, C-5, C-17. These flights brought in over 5,500 oxygen concentrators, approx. 3,200 oxygen cylinders, over 9,28,000 masks, 1,36,000 Remdesivir injections, which are required in view of huge surge in COVID-19 cases in the country. The handling and distribution of the medical aid is continuing in an efficient manner with the support from all stakeholders.
Dedicated teams from Cargo Terminal Operators, Clearing agent, Distribution warehouse centre have been assigned to ensure that the entire process of handling of such relief aid materials is done quickly. Thanks to the support being extended by GOI agencies including Customs, CISF to facilitate such handling operations in fast manner.
Delhi Airport has also ensured that priority in landing is given to flights carrying COVID relief aid, and such aircrafts get parking at Cargo bays near the Cargo terminals, just like the aircraft bringing vaccine consignments are handled on priority, to make sure that consignments are processed and cleared in least possible time after landing.
Delhi Airport is the largest Cargo Hub Airport of South Asia region, with two integrated Cargo Terminals having annual cargo handling capacity of 1.8 million MT which is scalable to 2.3 million MT.
The Cargo terminals are equipped with state-of-the art handling equipment, advanced screening systems, efficient storage and processing facilities, paperless processes etc. providing efficient Cargo handling services for International as well as Domestic cargo.
Both the Cargo terminals has world class infrastructure with GDP certified temperature controlled facilities for handling temperature sensitive cargo.
The Temperature controlled Cargo facilities have a capacity to handle over 1.5 lakh MT per annum. These facilities have state-of-the-art temperature controlled zones with separate cool chambers ranging from –20 deg C to +25 deg C.
Also both the Terminals are provided with adequate number of charging points to handle temperature controlled containers.
There are Cool Dollies at airside for movement of temperature sensitive cargo to and from Terminals to the Aircrafts to ensure unbroken cool chain.
In terms of airside infrastructure, Delhi Airport is the first and only airport in the country to have 12 Nos. of dedicated Freighter parking bays, providing ample capacity for the Airlines to move cargo to and from the Airport. In fact, cargo apron is capable to do three Nose Load operations seamlessly at single point of time.
Delhi Airport provides highest airline connectivity in the country to different parts of the world and within India, it will play a critical role as a transshipment hub to connect under-served countries/ regions to rest of the world.
Delhi Airport is also advance in using technology for fast movement of vaccines and other relief goods from the airport. Delhi airport has been first to launch the India’s first ‘QR code based e-Gate Pass facility’ for delivery of Import cargo, thereby making paper documentation process automated and also reducing human interface.
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