As we look back on 2020, we see many changes in the fabric of society, from how we work and consume goods to how we deal with our own and each other’s health and safety.
The COVID-19 pandemic created a unique economy in which consumer demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) went through the roof and an already booming e-commerce sector kicked into yet another gear. This new demand caused an increased requirement for air cargo capacity, which had been cut by 40 percent through the grounding of passenger aircraft as passenger transport demand plummeted.
But air cargo carriers rose to the challenge, bringing parked freighter aircraft back into service, deferring planned retirements, and in the most innovative move of all, mobilizing more than 2,500 parked passenger aircraft for cargo-only operations. Of those 2,500-plus planes, nearly 200 had their seats removed to increase their capacity. This enabled airlines to address PPE and e-commerce demand, as well as support critical business activity as national lockdowns were lifted.
But as we look ahead to 2021, the question remains: Will the industry be able to overcome the logistical challenges presented by the global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines? Much will depend on whether all those vaccines will require ultra-cold distribution, with maintained temperatures as low as –80° Celsius (–112° Fahrenheit); how quickly production can ramp up; the timeframe for distribution; and how national governments tackle in-country disbursements.
Given the scale of the challenge, the key to successful COVID-19 vaccine distribution will be communication and collaboration. National health agencies, humanitarian organizations, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and supply chain partners will need to be open and transparent, so they can collectively plan, prepare, and perform. Air cargo will play a significant part in helping to achieve this international imperative.