Like many airlines, Korean Air Cargo notes that the pandemic resulted in the carrier seeing considerable volumes of Covid-related air cargo demand, including test kits, medical supplies, protective gear and vaccines. But the global reduction of passenger air services belly capacity led to a substantial constriction of air freight capacity, making freighters enormously important in maintaining global supply chains – including now for vaccine transport.
Lufthansa Cargo notes: “In addition to individual patients who depend on the delivery of their medicines, entire societies have been waiting for the transport of Corona vaccines and medical protective equipment,”. But as developed as its network and services were prior to the onslaught of the pandemic, the constantly changing framework of Covid-19 restrictions “have made planning our network a challenge”.
Lufthansa adds: “Through flexible steering of our freighter fleet, however, Lufthansa Cargo has been able to keep supply chains open.” Key to this success has been the “constant dialogue with customers”. This includes forwarders, shippers – pharmaceutical manufacturers – partners like airports and ground handlers, as well as politicians and authorities who were all “very important in doing this as well”.
