Emirates SkyCargo DWC facility to re-open as vaccine hub

Emirates SkyCargo will re-open its SkyCentral DWC cargo terminal as a dedicated airside cargo facility for the launch of a Covid-19 vaccine.

The freight division of Emirates has also set up a “dedicated rapid response team” to coordinate requests from the various partners involved in the vaccine distribution and to “streamline the carrier’s response to vaccine transportation requests”.

The airline claimed that its vaccine hub in Dubai South will be the largest dedicated airside facility in the world for Covid-19 vaccines.

Emirates SkyCentral DWC has over 4,000 sq m of temperature controlled GDP certified dedicated pharma storage area allowing for large scale storage and distribution of the potential Covid-19 vaccines, it said.

Overall, the carrier estimates that the facility can hold around 10m vials of vaccine at a 2-8 degrees Celsius temperature range at any one point of time.

The carrier also offers a fleet of cool dollies for the transfer of shipments between aircraft and the cargo terminal and has temperature controlled trucking docks.

It will also offer re-icing and repackaging of vaccines.

Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates chairman and chief executive, said: “Dubai is well positioned to serve as a gateway and distribution hub for Covid-19 vaccines to the rest of the world.

“We have the infrastructure and logistics connections, and a geographic location that puts markets representing more than two-thirds of the world’s population within an eight-hour flying radius.”

Emirates SkyCargo has restored its network with flights to nearly 135 destinations as of early October.