We are pleased to hear International Air Transport Association (IATA) is mulling over how to deliver vaccines to the world. That’s because there are now 7.8 billion people in our herd, according World Population Clock. To put that in perspective, the U.S. population is under 5% of the total. IATA ran the numbers on September 8, 2020. Then the controlling body announced they need the equivalent of 8000 jumbo jets to deliver COVID-19 vaccine to the world.
How Would ‘8000 Jumbo Jets’ Deliver COVID-19 Vaccine?
When IATA says 8,000 jets, it presumably refers to capacity not brand. That’s because only large airports can handle huge airplanes. Moreover, those main distribution points will need temperature-controlled facilities, and robust handling procedures. They will also need top security because the vaccine will be valuable commodity.
We imagine freight trains and caravans of refrigerated trucks fanning out in every direction from there. They would transfer loads to smaller courier vans to deliver the precious medicine to clinics everywhere. 8,000 jumbo jets to deliver COVID-19 vaccine could be just the beginning of the biggest logistic exercise in human history.
Where Would We Find the Equivalent of 8,000 Jumbo Jets?
International Air Transport Association is concerned about capacity. That’s because a large number of commercial airplanes are in long-term lockdown. It calculated the number conservatively too, assuming (a) single doses and (b) 50% delivery by land. But fleet size is not the only issue.
The number of city pairs has reduced dramatically, travel is curtailed, and many national borders have closed. IATA says if we don’t de-throttle the system first, then its capacity ‘will be very much compromised’. It’s time for the world to stop bickering, and line up an equivalent 8000 jumbo jets to deliver COVID-19 vaccine.
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Preview Image: Airbus A300 Cross Section
