UK need for ventilators, virus tests to spur cargo flights 50%

Freighter flights at London’s Heathrow airport are forecast to climb more than 50% above normal levels next week amid a surge in shipments of coronavirus test kits, protective equipment and ventilators.

While passenger operations at Europe’s busiest air hub have slowed to a trickle, movements of cargo planes are increasing as the U.K. races to keep pace with a jump in the number of people infected.

More than 40% of medicines and pharmaceutical products imported by the U.K. already arrive via Heathrow, measured by value. Food shipments are also set to increase as the normally crowded airport has free capacity for the first time in a decade, according to a statement Tuesday.