This file photo taken July 29, 2020, shows planes parked at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Sept. 28 (Korea Bizwire) — Korean Air Lines Co. and Asiana Airlines Inc. — South Korea’s two biggest carriers — are preparing to transport vaccines for the novel coronavirus as governments around the world continue throw resources behind efforts to develop a vaccine.
While it is still too early to decide when or how the COVID-19 vaccines will be developed, airlines intend to come up with preliminary plans on vaccine transport so as to reflect the urgency of addressing the coronavirus, experts say.
Since aircraft are expected to play a key role in the distribution of vaccines, experts anticipate that swift and efficient distribution of vaccines in South Korea will largely depend on domestic airlines.
Early this month, Korean Air organized a coronavirus task force consisting of subject matter experts in shipment to design plans to transport the vaccine.
When shipping vaccines and other drugs, it is crucial that they be kept at low temperatures to sustain quality.
The task force is currently securing refrigerators and other cooling facilities as they await the vaccine.
Korean Air already owns a refrigerated facility at the Incheon International Airport Cargo Terminal that can accommodate as much as 100 tons.
Asiana also sent out guidelines to domestic and international cargo bases on the procedures regarding vaccine transport and management.
Asiana plans to locate airports with special facilities to store the vaccines to prevent them from being sent to airports without them.
In June last year, the two airlines were certified by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to manage pharmaceutical products.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
