From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, May 25: The Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru operated by Bengaluru International Airport Ltd (BIAL) has processed 650,225 kgs (542,620 kgs of imports and 107,605 kgs of domestic inbound) of Covid-19 related relief material from April 1, 2021, to May 19, 2021.

Of the total, a significant 567,791 kgs were processed from May 1 to 19, 2021, with imports at 507,820 kgs and domestic inbound cargo at 59,971 kgs. While 200 shipments came in April, the first 20 days of May accounted for nearly 800 shipments, accounting for an overall 25,891 pieces of Covid-19 related cargo.

During this period, BIAL recorded a total of 136 Air Traffic Movements (ATMs), including 101 international ATMs and 35 domestic ATMs, carrying Covid-19 related cargo. This included 21 different carriers (7 Indian and 14 international carriers). Wuhan and Singapore are the top importing origins.

Oxygen concentrators, ventilators and Zeolite were the major import commodities, while Covid-19 vaccines and PPEs were the top domestic inbound cargo.

BIAL Cargo Terminal operators – Menzies Aviation Bobba (Bangalore) and Air India SATS – have jointly demarcated 1,000 sq ft within their respective premises for handling and faster clearance of Covid-19 related shipments.

A dedicated team has been formed to enable quicker and priority handling for Covid-19 related cargo. The cargo terminals have dedicated truck docks for faster delivery of Covid-19 shipments. Flights carrying vaccines are allocated parking stands in front of the respective terminals to enable quicker and seamless processing of the logistic.

• Facilitated processing of 7.8 Metric Tonnes of cargo, which included 200 oxygen concentrators from Guangzhou, China, on a specially chartered Indigo flight for the Government of Karnataka.

• Processed 150 tonnes of Zeolite, a critical component for the generation of oxygen from Rome on special Air India charter flights, between May 16 and 19, 2021, for DRDO.