ABC transports vaccine equipment to ramp up production up to 600,000 vials per day

AirBridgeCargo Airlines (ABC), one of the leading air cargo carriers for transportation of special cargo, has been aiming at 360-degree support of COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing, including through stable shipments of vial-producing equipment.

A total of 840 tonnes of equipment enabling automation lines for the manufacturing of coated cyclo olefin (COP) polymer vaccines containers will be delivered from August till the remainder of the year from Frankfurt (Germany) to Atlanta (USA) onboard Boeing 747-8F in cooperation with ABC’s long-standing partner, Streck Transportges. mbH, who worked in tandem with ZAHORANSKY AG.

Yulia Celetaria, Global Pharma Director, AirBridgeCargo Airlines comments: ‘We have already witnessed an emerging demand for COVID-19 vaccine-related shipments, covering vials, ampules, injectors, as well as production equipment. It is amazing to realize that the equipment we transport today will facilitate the production of more secure plastic vials made of COP which we might be delivering later with COVID-19 vaccines inside, once the Phase 3 trials are finalized. With 30 years of experience in the air cargo industry and in-depth knowledge of healthcare logistics, many customers call on our high-quality services, capable fleet, extensive network and certified personnel to guarantee safe and reliable transportations, especially when it comes to special cargo.’

It is expected that more than 50% of COVID-19 vaccines will be air freighted with the major manufacturing regions being located in India, China, UK, USA and Europe. AirBridgeCargo Airlines, as well as other carriers with Volga-Dnepr Group (the Group), has been gearing up its capabilities for vaccine transportation through temperature mapping of all freighters within the Group fleet, working under various options for vaccine delivery onboard all types of the Group freighters (Boeing 747F, Boeing 737F, Boeing 777F, An-124-100/150, Il-76TD-90VD) and regular shipments of other vaccines. 

The company pays particular attention to stakeholder relations and organizes workshops with vaccine manufacturers, freight forwarders, ground handling agents, airports, container leasing providers and other stakeholders, as well as conducts internal training of Sales, Marketing, Operations and Procurement personnel.