IAG Cargo partners with Senator International to deliver over a million protective masks to Germany

In addition to the belly space, the special charter flight carried cargo in the cabin of a B777-200 passenger aircraft converted into a freighter

IAG Cargo, the cargo arm of parent group IAG, has transported over a million protective face masks to Munich - following Germany’s new rules introduced last month requiring individuals to wear medical-grade face masks when in the workplace, public transport and in shops.

Partnering with Senator International, a global logistics company headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, IAG Cargo utilised a B777-200 passenger aircraft converted into a freighter to charter a flight from Shanghai to Munich carrying over 17,000 boxes (actual weight of 21.1 tons) of medical-grade face masks for the population of Germany. The flight took place in the week commencing 8 February.

Through its five sister airlines, IAG Cargo benefits from an extensive fleet and specialist pharma hubs at London Heathrow, Madrid and Dublin. In addition to yesterday’s charter, the teams at IAG Cargo and Senator International worked closely last year, chartering several B777-300s, which have 14 cargo positions for large pallets – these flew between China and Germany carrying PPE and medical equipment to support the fight against Covid-19. Since the start of pandemic IAG Cargo has transported thousands of tonnes of PPE across the world through its extensive global network.

Tim-Oliver Kirschbaum, CEO of Senator International, commented: “Having already handled various charter flights together with IAG Cargo, we knew we could trust their expertise and support. All went really smoothly - from setting up the flight plan to the actual loading and unloading of the aircraft. Everybody worked together and made this transfer another success.”

Freddie Overton, Regional Commercial Manager for Europe & Africa at IAG Cargo commented: “I’m really proud that we were able to support Senator International again to deliver PPE during this challenging time. It’s been nearly a year since we introduced our network of charter and cargo only flights – this continues to be an essential service in keeping vital goods like PPE moving across the world. Air cargo has always played a key role in times of crisis and we remain committed to continuing to support our customers."