New Delhi, Apr 9 (IANS): Budget airline SpiceJet on Thursday said that it has operated the first cargo freighter on the Chennai-Singapore-Chennai route carrying critical medical equipment and Covid-19 related medical supplies .

SpiceJet's Boeing 737 freighter aircraft was scheduled to arrive back in Chennai on Thursday evening.

The airline has transported over 1,500 tons of cargo carrying essential supplies since the nation-wide lockdown began.

Besides, SpiceJet will operate a second freighter flight on Friday, carrying medical supplies from Singapore to Bengaluru.

"SpiceJet's freighters have been flying non-stop carrying vital supplies to and from Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait and a host of other places including South-East Asia," said SpiceJet Chairman & Managing Director, Ajay Singh.

"Since the lockdown began, we have operated around 200 domestic and international cargo flights transporting more than 1,500 tons of cold chain medical supplies, medicines, medical devices for various state governments, medical and pharma companies along with essential supplies."

The airline's dedicated cargo arm -- SpiceXpress -- has been regularly transporting surgical supplies, sanitizers, face masks, etc. and providing doorstep deliveries of essential supplies, medicines and medical equipment.