Emirates SkyCargo to provide drugs transport facility

Emirates SkyCargo, the cargo arm of the Dubai-based airline, Emirates, has introduced cool chain solutions for transporting drugs from Ahmedabad to destinations across the world.

The airline will operate six flights a week to Ahmedabad, starting last week of October. It will provide 110 tonnes of cargo capacity per week in a direction, together with its temperature-controlled air cargo containers that will maintain a stable interior temperature throughout the journey.

The main feature will be the active temperature control systems that range from -20C to +20C.

Emirates SkyCargo's containers keep product temperature stable despite fluctuations in ambient temperatures.

Drugs like vaccines, bulk drugs, syrups, insulin and bio-technological products can be transported safely to various destinations using Emirates SkyCargo's containers.

The airline had targeted Ahmedabad as Gujarat is home to over 3,000 pharmaceutical industrial units and there is a flow of investment of over $1.6 billion in the industry. Gujarat contributes 28 per cent to the production and export basket of India's drug sector.

According to the release from Emirates, the airline which has global network spanning 94 gateways in 60 countries aims at using the latest technologies in air cargo containers for transporting medicines from Ahmedabad that will make way to pharmacies in West Asia, Europe, United States of America, Far East and Africa.

During this long journey, the cool chain has to be maintained and the airline will use a combination of temperature-controlled containers, cool dollies and warehouses at its Dubai hub so that the cargo arrives in the same condition it took off.

Peter Sedgley, senior vice president, Emirates SkyCargo, Commercial Operations, said, "As global focus on medical service increases, it becomes crucial that innovative life-saving drugs reach needy patients in time and in perfect condition."

He further said that its Cool Chain Solutions counter hostile temperatures to preserve the efficiency of medicines.

Temperature-controlled containers can also be used to transport fruits and vegetables from Ahmedabad to local supermarkets around the world and throughout the year.