Air cargo handler, Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), has set up a team at Milan’s Malpensa Airport to support the medical effort to treat Coronavirus sufferers in Italy by expediting the handling of time-sensitive materials destined for hospitals and medical centres.
In recent days, this work has included handling cargo onboard special China Eastern Airways charter flights from Shanghai to Milan carrying 20 tonnes of medical equipment and supplies, as well as a team of doctors to help deal with the crisis.
According to WFS, its team ensured the medical cargo was immediately processed and cleared so it could be despatched to hospitals in Milan, Venice, Padoa and Siena. WFS says it expects to handle more charters into Italy in the coming days and weeks as it continues to give its full support to the relief effort taking place across the country.
Organised by the Chinese Government, the flights also repatriated 187 Chinese citizens from Italy to Wenzhu in China’s southern Zhejiang Province.
Massimiliano Introini, managing director of WFS stated, “Cargo handling specialists at airports around the world are playing a vital role in helping governments and the healthcare sector deal with the urgent medical response to the outbreak of Covid-19. In Milan, we were able to ensure that by 20.00hrs on the day medical supplies arrived, they were delivered to Protezione Civile – Italy’s emergency agency – to be distributed to various hospitals. We are ready to support more such flights to ensure life-saving equipment reaches patients as quickly as possible. This is one of the ultimate examples of the important role the airline and cargo handling industries play at times of national and international crisis. We must ensure these vital supply lines remain open.”
