Airbus A400M 
A330-800 passenger aircraft
Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) has worked alongside Airbus and Bolloré Logistics to expedite the distribution of two million face masks to health workers in France and Spain to support the medical teams battling the coronavirus outbreak.
The three companies – all headquartered in France – joined forces to support the governmental and healthcare sector response to the Covid-19 crisis.
“This is a race against time“
Hugo Rodrigues, vice president cargo France at WFS
Airbus operated one of its own A330-800 passenger aircraft to Tianjin in China to collect the shipment.
Co-ordinated with its logistics partner Bolloré, the Airbus flight returned to Toulouse, where WFS’ cargo handling specialists were ready to quickly offload the cargo and make the necessary preparations for the masks to reach their final destinations across France and Spain.
From Toulouse, an Airbus A400M carried face masks to Getafe in Spain, completing the operation on 24 March.
Hugo Rodrigues, vice president cargo France at WFS, said: “With our global network of cargo handling stations, we have teams on the ground ready to ensure these life-saving cargoes reach those who need them within just a matter of hours.
“This is the power of air cargo and demonstrates the vital importance of the entire air cargo supply chain to the global response to the coronavirus. We will be working with Airbus and Bolloré Logistics on more relief flights carrying urgent medical equipment in the coming days.
“This is a race against time. I also want to thank the WFS cargo team in Toulouse because we are very proud of the commitment and professionalism they are showing in the current, most challenging circumstances.”
Marc Yorann, project manager at Bolloré Logistics “We want to thank everyone involved in helping to ensure this most urgent cargo reached the front-line medical staff so quickly.
“It is important that the medical profession helping to treat Covid-19 patients can feel confident that the logistics and cargo handling industry is there to provide all the help and support they need at this most difficult time, and has the ability to act immediately.”
