KLM to launch Netherlands-China special air cargo flights for emergency supplies

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will launch special air cargo flights linking cities between the Netherlands and China on April 13 to provide rapid transportation of medical equipment and other emergency supplies, announced KLM China Friday.

The special cargo air bridge between the Netherlands and China is jointly undertaken by KLM and Royal Philips to provide continuous cargo capacity to serve air cargo transport demands, said KLM China.

The Amsterdam-headquartered KLM has arranged two weekly flights linking Beijing, and three weekly flights linking Shanghai with the Netherlands. This will provide around 250 tonnes of additional cargo capacity each way per week.

KLM will specially redeploy B747 Combi airplanes for the flights between the Netherlands and China to maintain this vital cargo air bridge for the coming six to eight weeks, said the airline.

B747 Combi is a special passenger-cargo-mix airplane model with passengers in the front fuselage, and freight in the back.

On March 29, it resumed two weekly cargo flights to Beijing and two weekly cargo flights to Shanghai.

The newly added flights will supplement the increasing air cargo transport to serve anti-pandemic efforts, said KLM.