Blue Dart aircraft flying international stand strong with the nation in the war against the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic

Mr. Balfour Manuel - Managing Director, Blue Dart
Mr. Balfour Manuel - Managing Director, Blue Dart

Hyderabad: Blue Dart, India’s leading express logistics service provider and part of the Deutsche Post DHL Group (DPDHL) has been facilitating the transport of oxygen concentrators amongst other essential COVID relief medical equipment across the length and breadth of the Indian terrain. The express logistics provider has leveraged its market-differentiating Boeing 757-200 freighters, 11,000+ vehicles on ground and its Time Definite Services in order to rise to the occasion and deliver the need of the hour.

India is currently battling a surge in COVID-19 cases owing to a deadly second wave that began towards the end of March. As cases began to grow, the requirement for oxygen concentrators has increased giving rise to last-mile transportation problems, especially with problems arising to reach India’s villages and towns. Blue Dart is supporting the nation by helping move oxygen concentrators, oxymeters, medical supplies, ventilators and our full range of temperature-controlled products that are delivered in a time-definite manner.

Speaking about fulfilling the responsibility taken on, Balfour Manuel, Managing Director, Blue Dart said, “As we fight the second wave of COVID-19, findings of a double mutant indicate despite heightened efforts, that our battle to inoculate a sizeable population may still take a longer duration. We understand in these times when livelihood and supply Chains are stressed, our mission and purpose of ‘Connecting People, Improving Lives’ is extremely important. Blue Dart continues to use, its fleet of Boeing 757 freighters and resources at its disposal to play a key role in transporting O2 concentrators and critical medical supplies within the country; through our scheduled and International charter flights, ground network; supporting individuals and corporates alike. Through the pandemic, our people, have demonstrated their ‘Can do’ attitude standing true to our value of customer-centricity.”

Giving insight into Blue Dart’s capabilities, Ketan Kulkarni, Head Business Development & CMO, Blue Dart says, “Blue Dart has been transporting oxygen concentrators and other important medical & pharmaceutical equipment for COVID relief leveraging our air express and ground express network. The need of the hour is speed & time and Blue Dart has the capability to deliver excellence on both these parameters. Our 6 Boeing 757-200 freighters and 11,000+ vehicles on ground, aid us in making time-definite deliveries, especially with Mission Critical shipments such as COVID-relief equipment. Our charter aircraft are operating internationally including to China, the most recent being flying multiple charters to Shanghai receiving O2 concentrators.”

Ketan Kulkarni, CMO & Head- Business Development, Blue Dart
Ketan Kulkarni, CMO & Head- Business Development, Blue Dart

Elaborating further Ketan Kulkarni adds, “Blue Dart MedExpress will soon commence the trial experiments of Drone flights delivering vaccines and critical COVID medical supplies to the remotest parts of Telangana. We are affirmative that with our continued efforts and the contribution of India Inc, we will support the government’s target of vaccinating 80% of the population by September 2021.”

Blue Dart has worked through the pandemic ensuring the mission-critical supply chain remains operational. In line with the organization’s ‘First In Last Out’ policy, Blue Dart has transported COVID-19 vaccine samples, temperature-controlled movement of COVID-19 testing kits, ventilators, PPE, testing kits, reagents, enzymes, respirators, surgical masks, goggles and gloves amongst other critical material. The organization, especially over the last year, has been consistently working towards supporting the nation and help bring it back on its growth track. From ramping up its Temperature Controlled Logistics (TCL) services to transport the vaccine against COVID-19, to leveraging the use of technology to operate experimental Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS, Drones) for the delivery of vaccines and emergency medical supplies, the express logistics provider is doing everything within its power to help the nation and the economy get back on the path to recovery.