Air India is trying its best to bring around 600 oxygen concentrators on its two US-India flights in the next two days. These oxygen concentrators have been ordered by private entities.
This step has been undertaken to mitigate the severe shortage of medical oxygen in various hospitals all across the country. According to the sources, Air India plans to bring around 10,000 oxygen concentrators for private entities in the coming weeks.
According to an Air India spokesperson, the airline is prepared to shoulder the responsibility of carrying oxygen concentrators or any consignment into India. This responsibility has been given to Air India on virtue of the vast experience of international operations and wide-body fleet is fully capable of carrying a large volume of cargo consignments.
According to the Union Health Ministry data, a record single-day rise of 3,46,786 coronavirus cases pushed India’s tally of infection to 1,66,10,481, while active cases crossed the 25-lakh mark.
The first flight, carrying 318 oxygen concentrators weighing over 5,600 kg will take off from New York and is scheduled to land in Delhi on Tuesday. The second flight too will carry 318 concentrators will depart from Newark airport and land in Delhi on April 28, said the source in a release stating that the order was placed by the Indian government.
