The first flights carrying coronavirus vaccines have now taken place at Brussels Airport, the airport’s cargo section Brucargo said on Tuesday.
These are test flights or flights to position doses so that they can be distributed quickly once they have been approved for use.
"The whole logistics chain is preparing, worldwide," said Nathan De Valck, head of cargo at the airport. That logistics chain includes the aviation sector, which has been hit hard by the pandemic.
Some 30 to 50% of coronavirus vaccines will be distributed by airplane according to De Valck, in what the International Air Travel Association (IATA) has called “the mission of the century.”
“This will be the largest and most complex logistical exercise ever,” said IATA CEO Alexandre de Juniac, adding that “the world is counting on us.”Transporting vaccines to billions of people ? around the globe will be the "mission of the century" for air transport. ✈️#IATAAGM #aviation #avgeek #coldchain #pharma pic.twitter.com/0xd2t1R74v
— IATA (@IATA) November 25, 2020