At Frankfurt Airport (FRA), approximately 120,000 tonnes of vaccines, medications and other pharmaceutical products were handled in 2019. This makes FRA the European leader. Leveraging this position, airport operator Fraport and Lufthansa Cargo together with other partners at the site see themselves well prepared for handling a possible corona vaccine.
Link… emphasizes Harald Gloy, Chairman of the Board of the Air Cargo Community Frankfurt e.V. and Board Member of Lufthansa Cargo. This became particularly visible after the grounding of passenger flights, which almost halved the available air transport capacity on the market as belly space fell away. Freighters in combination with passenger planes converted to freighters (‘preighters’), have maintained international supply chains and especially the supply of hygiene materials and medical goods required to combat the corona pandemic.
Link“[Some] 3.5 billion respiratory protection masks and other protective equipment in 22,000 shipments plus medical equipment and pharmaceuticals as well as urgently required industrial goods, post, packages and food for the German and European markets. That sums up air cargo in Frankfurt since the worldwide lockdown due to the SARS-COVID-19 pandemic in mid-March”, says Harald Gloy, chairman of the board of Air Cargo Community Frankfurt and board member of Lufthansa Cargo AG.
LinkWhereas almost all passenger aircraft have been grounded for around 10 weeks, cargo planes are in constant use – and particularly from Frankfurt Airport, Europe's leading air cargo hub.
LinkFrankfurt Airport witnessed the movement of 3.5 billion respiratory masks and other PPE in nearly 22000 shipments along with medical equipment and pharmaceuticals as well as urgently required industrial goods, post, packages and food for the German and European markets during the worldwide lockdown period.
LinkThe global coronavirus outbreak has rapidly changed the airfreight business. Import volumes at Frankfurt Airport (FRA) have risen sharply, while exports have stagnated. Transfer cargo has almost been eliminated. There has also been a noticeable shift in the shape and type of shipments towards small, loose packages. In tandem with its partners on-site, Frankfurt Airport has responded quickly to these changes, ensuring continued delivery of vital goods to Germany and Europe during the Corona crisis.
Link