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Ensuring the continuation of international pharma supply chains while countries closed their doors to one another during the pandemic, Turkish Cargo had a significant success when it comes to vaccine transportation. Being the fastest growing air cargo carrier in the world during 2021 when negative effects of pandemic were ongoing, successful brand contributed to the return of good old days by carrying 335 million Covid-19 vaccine doses to 61 countries.
Able to carry vaccines, medicine and medical products in all of their specific temperature requirements, Turkish Cargo is one of the most preferred air cargo brands when it comes to transporting medical products with its fast and secure services. Carrying pharmaceutical products such as vaccines to 132 countries around the world with its TK Pharma service, flag carrier reached 8 percent market share in medical products category during 2021.
Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bolat; “We played an important role for Africa to get the vaccines.”
On the vaccine transportation operations, Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee,Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bolat stated: “If we are flying free once again and hug our loved ones without a worry, vaccines produced by heroic scientists and carriers who transported those vaccines to all corners of the world have a sizeable contribution in that outcome. By establishing a corridor between over 400 international destinations, we ensured that vaccines remained accessible for all. Especially considering the low number of carriers flying to Africa, Turkish Cargo had an important mission to make sure people of this continent could have access to vaccines. We carried our over 30 years of experience in carrying medical products to our SMARTIST center recently, one of the world’s most modern facilities. We are ready to shoulder even bigger responsibilities for our country and world in air cargo sector.”
After Turkiye, Most Vaccines Were Carried to Brazil
Carrying Covid-19 vaccines from the country they were produced to Turkiye and from Turkiye to all over the world, Turkish Cargo carried most number of vaccines to Turkiye followed by Brazil with 100 million doses in 2021. Amongst the countries with over 1 million doses delivered, there were African countries such as Mauritania, Madagascar, Rwanda and Congo.
As for the manufacturer of the vaccines, first place was Coronovac with 200 million doses followed by Biontech with 120 million doses, Astra Zeneca with 12 million doses and Moderna with 4 million doses.
Global air cargo brand carries important medical packages with delicate temperature and time constraints such as medicine, vaccines, biotechnological products, diagnosis samples, sensitive medical devices, organs and tissues with IATA-CEIV Pharma Certificate quality standards.
Turkiye Can Become a Medicine and Medical Product Base with SMARTIST Facility
Turkiye is on its way to become a global center for medical product transportation with Turkish Cargo’s new air cargo facility SMARTIST at Istanbul Airport. As one of the world’s foremost air cargo facilities that spans 340 thousand square meters, it offers significant advantages for quickly and securely transporting medicine and medical products with its heat and temperature-controlled area of 9 thousand square meters.
Globalization and increased demand for pharmaceutical industry due to Covid-19 pandemic also increases the demand for air cargo logistics. Turkish Cargo aims to carry Turkiye to become a medical center for the world with its new investments and expert teams. With parking areas for cargo freighters around the facility, it is expected that the successful carrier will increase its service quality and market share with SMARTIST facility.
About Turkish Airlines:
Established in 1933 with a fleet of five aircraft, Star Alliance member Turkish Airlines has a fleet of 373 (passenger and cargo) aircraft flying to 334 worldwide destinations in 329 cities as 279 international and 50 domestic, in 128 countries.
About Turkish Cargo:
Arranging air cargo operations to more than 340 destinations, 98 of which are the cargo destinations, in 132 countries around the world, Turkish Cargo operates with its fleet of 370 aircraft, 20 of which are freighters, at its hub in Istanbul that connects the continents with its strategic importance. Turkish Cargo, the fastest growing and developing air cargo brand of the world, aims to become one of the top 3 air cargo brands in 2025.
About Star Alliance:
The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance, based on a customer value proposition of global reach, worldwide recognition and seamless service. Since inception, it has offered the largest and most comprehensive airline network, with a focus on improving customer experience across the Alliance journey. The member airlines are: Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Avianca, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP Air Portugal, THAI, Turkish Airlines, and United. Overall, the Star Alliance network currently offers more than 12,000 daily flights to almost 1,300 airports in 197 countries. Further connecting flights are offered by Star Alliance Connecting Partners Juneyao Airlines and THAI Smile Airways.
