Air Canada has significantly reduced its number of flights as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak but it is utilising its fleet to transport cargo to keep supply chains moving.
In an operations update, Air Canada said that it has capacity on scheduled widebody flights operating on routes between Canada, Europe and Asia.
Capacity is also available on four weekly cargo-only flights to and from Shanghai — and there is a possibility that it will add additional scheduled flights to and from Shanghai too.
Additionally, ad-hoc all-cargo flights on Boeing 777 and 787-9 aircraft are available on-demand to almost anywhere in the world. Dozens of such flights have operated so far, mostly from Toronto to Europe and Asia.
Tim Strauss, vice president of Air Canada Cargo, commented: “The Air Canada fleet is ready to be used to help the flow of goods and materials to fight the pandemic.
“We’ve operated dozens of cargo-only flights to date — to London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam to name a few in Europe, as well as Incheon and Shanghai, in addition to scheduled flights. The demand is there, and we are ready.
“We’re in talks with authorities to help move medical supplies from Asia and are ready to serve.”
