LONDON – With the U.S suffering from a baby formula shortage, how is the aviation industry helping the country out? The answer?: Quite a lot is being offered.
U.S President Joe Biden instigated Operation Fly Formula over the Summer, where the U.S has partnered up with some countries around the world to acquire as much baby formula as possible.
The reason for this is a manufacturing plant shutting down in the U.S, which produces a significant amount of the baby formula for the nation.
With that, such shipments contain baby formula that is already approved in the United States, so then they can get onto the shelves quicker for parents to buy.
The U.S Department of Health stated the following on Operation Fly Formula so far:
“Under Operation Fly Formula, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the General Services Administration (GSA) are partnering to import infant formula from other nations that meet U.S. health and safety standards, so it can get to store shelves faster.”
The following flights were completed in August and September and delivered more than 11.8 million 8-ounce bottle equivalents of infant formula and are included at the end of the September total.
- August 15: A flight arrived from Mexico to Dallas Ft-Worth International Airport, carrying Nestle Gerber Good Start infant formula.
- August 26: A flight arrived from Switzerland and the Netherlands to Indianapolis International Airport, carrying Kendamil infant formula.
- August 31: A flight arrived from New Zealand to Chicago O’Hare International Airport, carrying Nutricia/Danone Aptamil Gold infant formula.
- September 2: A flight arrived from New Zealand to Chicago O’Hare International Airport, carrying Nutricia/Danone Aptamil Gold infant formula.
- September 2: A flight arrived from the United Kingdom to Chicago O’Hare International Airport, carrying Kendamil infant formula.
- September 3: A flight arrived from the United Kingdom to Chicago O’Hare International Airport, carrying Kendamil infant formula.
- September 4: A flight arrived from the United Kingdom to Chicago O’Hare International Airport, carrying Kendamil infant formula.
- September 5: A flight arrived from the United Kingdom to Chicago O’Hare International Airport, carrying Kendamil infant formula.
- September 7: A flight arrived from Australia to Dallas Ft-Worth International Airport, carrying Bellamy’s Organic infant formula.
- September 16: A flight arrived from Australia to Dallas Ft-Worth International Airport, carrying Bellamy’s Organic infant formula.
- September 16: A flight arrived from Switzerland at Indianapolis International Airport, carrying Nestle Alfamino and Alfamino Jr. infant formula.
- September 16: A flight arrived from Switzerland at Indianapolis International Airport, carrying Nestle Alfamino and Alfamino Jr. infant formula.
- September 23: A flight arrived from New Zealand to Chicago O’Hare International Airport, carrying Nutricia/Danone Aptamil Gold infant formula.
- September 29: A flight arrived from the Netherlands to Newark Liberty International Airport, carrying Nestle Gerber Good Start infant formula.
In total, around 74 flights have been completed under this operation, with many more still to take place. Around 94 million 8-ounce bottle equivalents have been delivered to the shelves.
This is quite a big feat and is a testament to the strong infrastructure that aviation hubs around the world currently offer, especially to get that many deliveries completed in a short period of time.
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