As Sri Lanka began expanding its COVID-19 vaccination programme beyond the Western province, Emirates SkyCargo supported the process by transporting a consignment of Sputnik V vaccines from Russia to Colombo.

 The consignment comprising 50,000 doses was transported under controlled conditions from Moscow’s Domodedovo International Airport to Dubai and onwards to Colombo, arriving on flight EK2528 at the Bandaranaike International Airport on the night of May 27. The importer was the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) and the local agent was DHL Global Freight.

 Emirates SkyCargo, the air freight division of Emirates, has been leading the international air cargo industry in the transportation of COVID-19 vaccines and other essential pharmaceuticals, PPE and food supplies during the pandemic. Emirates has transported around 70 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to more than 60 destinations by May 2021. Emirates SkyCargo has transported six different types of COVID-19 vaccines on its flights.

 Emirates SkyCargo has a dedicated GDP-certified facility at its hub in Dubai used for storing and transporting COVID-19 vaccines from manufacturing locations to a destination network spanning six continents. With its modern wide-body aircraft, innovative equipment such as Cool Dollies and specialised containers, Emirates SkyCargo has been able to safely and rapidly deliver around 5% of the total COVID-19 vaccines administered around the world since October 2020.

 In January 2021, Emirates SkyCargo joined hands with DP World, Dubai Airports and International Humanitarian City to form the Dubai Vaccine Logistics Alliance. The Alliance partners work together to facilitate the rapid transport of COVID-19 vaccines and related medical supplies through Dubai to developing countries. In February 2021, Emirates SkyCargo joined hands with UNICEF to expedite transportation of COVID-19 vaccines under the framework of the COVAX facility, aimed at equitable distribution of vaccines to global communities.