New Delhi, Apr 24 (IANS): Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Friday said that professionals engaged in the aviation field have strengthened India's fight against Covid-19 by making life-saving medical and essential supplies available across the country under 'Lifeline Udan' scheme.

In a tweet, the minister said: "The way our aviation professionals & stake holders have come forward to add strength to India's fight against COVID19 by making life saving medical & essential supplies available to citizens across the country under Lifeline UDAN is commendable."

Till now, 347 flights have transported 591.66 tonnes of medical supplies across the country under the Lifeline Udan initiative. Out of these, 206 flights have been operated by Air India and Alliance Air.

"Vistara has operated 7 cargo flights during 19-23 April 2020 covering 8,989 km and carrying around 20 tons of cargo. Spicejet operated 522 cargo flights during 24 March to 23 April 2020 covering 7,94,846 km and carrying 3,993 tons of cargo. Out of these, 178 were international cargo flights," the Ministry of Civil Aviation said in a statement.

"Blue Dart operated 184 cargo flights covering 1,87,155 km and carrying 2,957 tons of cargo during 25 March to 23 April 2020. Out of these, 6 were international cargo flights. Indigo has operated 37 cargo flights during 3-23 April 2020 covering 48,344 km and carrying around 101 tons of cargo and including 8 international flights. This includes medical supplies carried free of cost for the government. Domestic Cargo Operators are operating cargo flights on a commercial basis."

The Lifeline Udan flights connect hubs in locations such as Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Agartala, Aizwal, Dimapur, Imphal, Coimbatore, Thiruvanthapuram, Bhubaneswar, Raipur, Ranchi, Port Blair and Goa.

As part of India's war against Covid-19, the Civil Aviation Ministry had launched Lifeline Udan flights on March 26 for movement of medical and essential supplies across the country and beyond. Currently, no foreign or domestic passenger flight operations are allowed in the country.