Three Icelandair B767 passenger aircraft with cabin seats removed, 45 flights in May
DB Schenker will operate a daily air cargo connection between Shanghai and Munich using three Icelandair B767 passenger aircraft with their cabin seats stripped out for logistics service provider.
The first flights of the China Shuttle have already brought tons of medical equipment to Europe.
“Where capacity is lacking, we create it. DB Schenker is thus also expanding the global supply network in the fight against Coronavirus”, says Thorsten Meincke, Member of the Management Board for Air and Ocean Freight at DB Schenker.
“With these additional flights, we have demonstrated our ability to act with flexibility and speed during a crisis.”
The China Shuttle is aimed specifically at customers who import medical equipment, such as masks or protective suits, from China to combat the spread of Coronavirus
Bookings for several thousand cubic meters of freight have already been received. The lead time to delivery at the destination is five to seven days.
Initially, 45 shuttle flights are planned from Shanghai Pudong to Munich in 12 rotations per week, once fully operational.
An expansion of the shuttle and further connections, e.g. twice a week to Chicago, are in preparation.
Removing the passenger seats creates more than 200 cu m of cargo space in the belly and on the passenger deck.
In addition, as part of the cooperation, a DB Schenker logo has been placed on the outer hull of the three Boeing 767. This is the first time the DB Schenker logo is presented on an aircraft.
