British Airways and China

Twenty-one British Airways cargo-only flights a week from China to London will shortly be operating. 

The airline will carry cargo in the cabin on some of these operations, as well as in the hold, the first time BA has ever done this.

From May every week there will be 14 departures from Shanghai, and seven out of Beijing. These flights will be able to carry up to 770 tonnes of cargo weekly for the NHS, including personal protective equipment (PPE) and ventilators.

In April, the airline has already operated 13 cargo-only flights from China to the UK carrying NHS supplies. The flights are operated in partnership with the UK Government and IAG Cargo. The British Embassy in China is working with the Department of Health to procure medical equipment from China and deliver it to NHS hospitals all over the UK. Sister companies IAG Cargo, Iberia and Aer Lingus have all helped in the effort.

Alex Cruz, British Airways’ chairman and chief executive, said: “As an airline we are in a unique position to help in the global response to COVID-19, whether it is through carrying UK residents back home, transporting vital cargo back to the NHS, or through our colleagues who are offering their skills to volunteer. We’re proud to be playing our part, and I’m grateful to everyone who is working to make these flights happen in these difficult times.”

www.ba.com

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Chris Pocock, Uxbridge

at least they get some revenue from this, now that they are hardly carrying any 'self-loading freight'