Emirates SkyCargo will reopen its cargo terminal in Dubai South (DWC) to serve as a dedicated airside hub for cold chain storage and distribution of a much anticipated Covid-19 vaccine.
With the resumption, the 4,000–square–metre Emirates SkyCentral DWC will be “the largest dedicated airside facility in the world for COVID-19 vaccines,” estimated to hold around 10 million vials of vaccine at any one point in time, the carrier said.
Emirates SkyCentral DWC has a full arsenal of equipment and facilities to ensure cold storage, including a fleet of cool dollies and temperature–controlled trucking docks, as well as dedicated zones for re-icing and repackaging of vaccines.
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The cargo division of Emirates has also set up a dedicated team to handle the large volume of time-critical requests expected once a vaccine is approved.
“Dubai is well positioned to serve as a gateway and distribution hub for COVID-19 vaccines to the rest of the world,” said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates chairman and chief executive.
The carrier noted it has managed to position Dubai amongst major pharma customers as the year-round preferred point of transit for such temperature-sensitive cargo.
“We have the infrastructure and logistics connections and a geographic location that puts markets representing more than two-thirds of the world’s population within an 8-hour flying radius,” the CEO added.
Since 2016, Emirates SkyCargo has moved more than a quarter million tonnes of pharma cargo. In April, Emirates SkyCentral DWC was temporarily shut when the airline moved cargo handling operations to Dubai International Airport (DXB).
