The loss of around 90% of flights between Europe and Asia in March 2020 resulted in a major shortage of cargo capacity. Meanwhile, the corona crisis prompted an enormous need for the rapid transportation of medical equipment and other supplies between the United States, Europe, and China. In April, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines joined hands with Royal Philips and the Dutch government to create a special cargo air bridge between the Netherlands and China. In view of the 90% decline in flights and anticipated future capacity, KLM decided in early March that it would phase out its remaining Boeing 747s in April 2020, instead of in the Summer of 2021. For the benefit of this air bridge, the enterprise did however redeploy two Boeing 747 Combi-aircrafts to be used specifically on these two routes during the designated period.

Read the full article in Cargo Magazine 2020 Summer online edition [here]

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