FedEx Express relies on huge freighter fleet to quickly transport PPE

Over the last few weeks, FedEx Express has continued to support the global fight against Covid-19 by transporting numerous medical cargo shipments of personal from Asia to France.

In particular, FedEx Express is processing thousands of medical shipments each day at its European hub at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Medical cargo being handled at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport includes protective equipment (PPE) and masks for use in hospitals and care homes, as well as testing kits for the general population of France.

Around 6,500 FedEx Express team members are working in ground operations across France clear, transport and deliver the shipments to their final destinations.

FedEx Express’ fleet of 675 freighter aircraft — the largest fleet of cargo aircraft in the world — enable it to quickly transport medical equipment and other vital supplies from Asia, which is currently the main producer of supplies used to fight Covid-19.

Jean Muls, vice president of Air Hub Operations Europe at FedEx Express, explained: “The Covid-19 situation has generated an unprecedented demand for air freight transport from Asia to Europe. In April, we increased our flights between Asia and Europe by almost 50% with our Paris-Charles de Gaulle hub playing a vital part. A real air connection is in place and FedEx is playing a major role.”

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Since February 1, FedEx Express has transported 17,100 tonnes of personal protective equipment. Around 45% of these shipments were medical masks.

The company also recently transported 9m face masks to France to be used by employees at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as they gradually return to work while adhering to safety practices.

Other FedEx relief efforts include the shipment of 300,000 masks for a temporary field hospital in Madrid; the shipment of breathing equipment to eight hospitals in Northern Italy from the Netherlands; and five shipments with Direct Relief, totaling 4m face masks and 50,000 face shields from China to the US.