Plane shortage threatens Covid-19 vaccine delivery, IATA warns

There may not be enough planes to deliver Covid-19 vaccines around the world in the "mission of the century" unless governments respond urgently, the industry has warned.

Providing a single dose of a vaccine to the world's 7.8bn people would require 8,000 jumbo jets, the International Air Transport Association said. Airlines have reduced their networks and put planes into remote long-term storage, risking a shortage of aircraft when a vaccine is ready for delivery, IATA said.

IATA said delivering billions of vaccine doses would be highly complex. Vaccines must be transported in line with strict rules at controlled temperatures requiring more temperature-controlled capacity, trained staff and monitoring. Tight security will be required to protect valuable vaccines from theft.

Governments will also have to speed up processes at borders, many of which have become stricter during the crisis. IATA called for fast-track landing permits, exempting crew from quarantine and removing operating curfews for flights carrying vaccines.

IATA Director General Alexandre de Juniac said: "Safely delivering Covid-19 vaccines will be the mission of the century for the global air cargo industry. We urge governments to take the lead in facilitating cooperation across the logistics chain so that the facilities, security arrangements and border processes are ready for the mammoth and complex task ahead.

"Governments must take very careful consideration of the limited air cargo capacity that is available at the moment. If borders remain closed, travel curtailed, fleets grounded and employees furloughed, the capacity to deliver life-saving vaccines will be very much compromised."

The World Health Organisation and other groups have already reported severe difficulties maintaining existing vaccine programmes partly because of limited air links, de Juniac said. He said even if half the required vaccines were transported by land the air cargo industry would still face its biggest transport challenge ever.