Ethiopian begins Africa vaccine shipments with special flight

Ethiopian, Africa's biggest and most profitable airline, has started vaccine shipment to Africa with a dedicated flight.

The airline made an announcement to that effect over the weekend. It is not known from where and to where the first batch of deliveries were made.

The development comes as countries gear up to begin coronavirus vaccinations with the steady arrival of vaccines. Morocco, Egypt and South Africa are among countries that have so far received consignments.

Ethiopian Transports the First COVID-19 Vaccine Shipment to Africa with a Dedicated Flight .#Ethiopian pic.twitter.com/wM3lmOqAv0

— Ethiopian Airlines (@flyethiopian) February 6, 2021

The airline played a central role in transporting tons of medical supplies meant for coronavirus response in Africa. In the early days, Ethiopian distributed test kits, masks and other supplies across Africa. They were also crucial in repatriation flights schedules.

With the increased need for freight operations, in addition to its 12 dedicated cargo aircraft, Ethiopian reconfigured 25 passenger planes into freighters.

Ethiopian announces partnership

Ethiopian had announced last year during the launch of a cold chain air freight facility that it had put measures in place with respect with the transportation and distribution of temperature-sensitive medicines, including vaccines as and when available.

"Ethiopian Airlines will repeat its remarkable and globally recognized success in leading the fast delivery of PPEs few months ago with similar delivery speed, professional handling and maintaining the cold chain during the forthcoming global distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine.

"In anticipation of the Covid-19 vaccine release, we will be at the forefront to further discharge our responsibility in the distribution of the vaccine across the globe," Group CEO Tewolde GebreMariam said at the time.

The Airline also signed a partnership agreement with with Cainiao Smart Logistics Network, the logistics arm of China’s Alibaba Group, to launch a cold chain air freight for transporting temperature-controlled medicines.

Freighters carrying medicines will depart Shenzhen, southern China twice a week to Africa, and to the rest of the world via Dubai and Addis Ababa, according to a press release.

The airline noted that the entire cold chain cabin will be equipped with a temperature control system that monitors the cabin’s temperature in real-time.

The 54,000sqm cargo terminal in Ethiopia has also been outfitted with compartmentalized cold storage facilities with temperature between -23°C to 25.