Airbus has recently delivered important medical supplies to four European countries fighting COVD-19. Today, an aircraft arrived in Spain laden with face masks to distribute throughout Spain, Germany, France, and the UK. The airframer is responding to a desperate need for supplies to protect frontline health workers.
Airbus delivers essentials to Europe
Yesterday, Airbus enlisted the help of one of its A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft to provide urgent medical supplies to key workers and patients in Europe. The move is in response to growing concerns that key health workers are in short supply of correct personal protection equipment to manage cases of COVID-19.
Over the past two days, Airbus has been preparing for the delivery that arrived in Getafe in Spain in the early hours of this morning. On the 26th March, the aircraft left Airbus’ site in Getafe at 18:15 UTC en route to Tianjin in China. Once the Airbus crew had completed the 5,825-mile journey, the aircraft was loaded with over four million face masks. These will be used in hospitals and for workers in the public services in France, Spain, Germany, and the UK.
On 27th March, the aircraft then made its way back to Getafe. The flight landed at 03:05 UTC this morning (28th March) and it is likely that the supplies will soon be sorted for distribution.
Over the last 48 hours, we have flown an @airbus #A330MRTT, from Getafe, Spain to Tianjin, China and back to ferry more than 4 millions masks and medical supplies we'll be donating to governments in Europe. #COVID19 https://t.co/ykrH2IC0m4 pic.twitter.com/T6Wxi3dqXD
— Airbus Defence (@AirbusDefence) March 28, 2020
Not the first mission for Airbus
Throughout the coronavirus outbreak, it seems that Airbus has been evaluating the role it can play on the global stage. Its effort to provide aid to those who need it has been relentless.
Earlier this week, the airframer ramped up its relief effort in Spain. On 24th March, it used an Airbus A400M airlifter to fly medical supplies between Toulouse, France and Madrid, Spain. The Spanish Ministry of Defence received the delivery which was part of the two million face masks that Airbus had delivered to Spain up until that point.
This latest mission shows that Airbus is now broadening its reach and that’s a good thing. Speaking to Sky News, the Medical Director of Clinico San Carlos Hospital in Madrid echoed a sentiment that is being felt in many parts of the world. As more cases of coronavirus are diagnosed the issue is not primarily with space. The issue is with the provision of protective equipment for staff. In the interview with Sky News, Professor Julio Mayol said:
“We can provide [pateints] with more beds, but we need personal protection equipment (PPE), and there is a global shortage, and this makes it very difficult for us to send healthcare workers to battle on the frontline without the adequate equipment.”
Will Airbus continue delivering face masks to Europe?
We contacted Airbus to ask whether it would continue delivering face masks to these countries in the future. It was not available for comment at the time of publication. However, there is every indication that Airbus will continue its missions to deliver emergency provisions. The coronavirus peak has not yet hit many European countries including the UK and Belgium and it’s most likely that Airbus will continue helping where it can in order to prevent things from getting worse.
Will we see more deliveries from Airbus? Let us know what you think in the comments.
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