Airbus flies in four million face masks for European health systems
Aircraft manufacturer Airbus has deployed a new air-bridge flight between Europe and China to deliver additional face mask supplies to health systems in the UK, France, Germany and Spain in support of the COVID-19 crisis efforts.
The aircraft, an Airbus A330-200 undergoing conversion as multi-role tanker transport (MRTT), took off on March 26, at 19.15 local time (CET) from Airbus’ Getafe site near Madrid, reaching the Airbus site in Tianjin (China) on March 27.
The aircraft, operated by an Airbus crew, returned to Spain on March 28, at 04.05 local time with a cargo of more than four million face masks.
In recent days, Airbus had already organised flights from Europe and China with A330-800 and A400M aircraft to donate thousands of face masks to hospitals and public services around Europe.
Airbus announced on Thursday, March 26, that it was reducing production at its Broughton wing-making plant, near Chester, which employs more than 6,000 staff, following an evaluation of production flow across the European group’s sites.
It said Broughton would “adapt production activity for the next three weeks” by taking an extended Easter holiday.
Another wing-making plant in Bremen, Germany, will be put on a reduced working week to adjust production levels.
Earlier this month Airbus revealed that it had received no new orders for aircraft in February, due to the impact of coronavirus on world travel.
