Emirates SkyCargo is planning to reopen its SkyCentral terminal based at Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), Dubai. The carrier announced it is planning to set up world’s first cargo hub dedicated for potential COVID-19 vaccine distribution.
In order to consolidate cargo operations and reduce costs, the company temporarily suspended all operations at the DWC hub since April 01, 2020.
Now the air cargo carrier plans to establish the SkyCentral hub as the largest airside facility for cold chain storage and allocation point for the COVID-19 vaccine, enabling the carrier to transport vaccines from manufacturing sites all over the world as well as to store them and prepare shipments for further distribution.
The SkyCentral hub at DWC has over 4,000 sq mt of temperature-controlled GDP certified dedicated pharma storage area which would enable the company to store the vaccine in large quantities. The facility is equipped with all necessary technologies to hold ’10 million vials of vaccine at a 2-80 Celsius temperature range at any one point of time’.
Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Group said that the company has proper infrastructure and logistics connections as well as an appropriate geographic location for fluent vaccine storage and transportation.
“Over the years, through our continuous investment in capabilities and processes for the transport of temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals, Emirates SkyCargo has managed to position Dubai amongst major global pharmaceutical customers as the year-round preferred point of transit for their valuable cargo. Setting up a dedicated airside hub for COVID-19 vaccines is a keystone project harnessing our network, reach and competencies to positively impact the lives of people around the world,” Al Maktoum said.
