At a time when the number of passenger flights has plummeted, airlines are instead using their planes to transport vital goods and supplies around the UK and around the world.
AviationPros recently reported that Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) has handled more than 100 tonnes of newly arrived medical supplies that have landed at Gatwick and Heathrow airports on cargo-only flights.
These include deliveries of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as face masks and aprons for healthcare workers, that WFS was able to unload and dispatch to the NHS within two hours of the cargo flights touching down.
Products have been arriving in the UK from China, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the news provider noted.
WFS managing director – UK cargo Paul Carmody commented: “Given how the global air cargo market has changed since the outbreak of Coronavirus, I especially want to recognise the application and positivity shown by our UK team to ensure we apply all of our safety, security and handling skills to process these urgent shipments.”
When it comes to supplies of the likes of PPE, it’s important that shipments have a tamper evident seal so that workers know the items they’re using are safe.
Earlier this month, an article for Forbes noted that there is an urgent need for greater air cargo capacity, given that some 50 per cent of global air cargo is typically carried in passenger flights, the majority of which are currently grounded.
However, it noted that while some passenger-focused airlines may want to increase their cargo carrying capacity at this time, they are being restricted by the lack of aircraft that are configured for this use, as well as a lack of pilots and international restrictions.
