KLM and Philips to set up a special freight airlift from Amsterdam to China
10 April 2020 - 12:35AM
April 9, 2020
Special airlift complements existing airlift between Amsterdam
and the US
Amsterdam, the Netherlands - With the current loss of
around 90% of all flights between Europe and Asia, there is a major
shortage of freight capacity. At the same time, and precisely
because of the crisis surrounding COVID-19, there is a huge
requirement to transport medical equipment and other supplies
quickly between the US, Europe and China. KLM has now joined forces
with Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG; AEX: PHIA) and the Dutch government
to create a temporary special cargo airlift between the Netherlands
and China. In addition to these parties, requests for extra
capacity are coming from many other organizations. This airlift to
Asia will start on April 13, 2020.
During the coming six to eight weeks, specifically for this
important airlift between the Netherlands and China, KLM will bring
its Boeing 747 Combi aircraft back into operation, ensuring a
continuous flow of special freight capacity – two times a week to
Beijing and three times a week to Shanghai. This will create
approximately 250 tons of extra freight capacity in each direction
per week. The flights will operate alongside the existing services
of the so-called skeleton timetable that has been in force since
March 29, 2020 with two Beijing and two Shanghai flights operated
using Boeing 787s and Boeing 777s.
The Full Freighters of KLM/Martinair will continue to be
deployed on North Atlantic routes, which Philips will use to
airlift from Amsterdam to distribution points in the US.
KLM/Martinair will also continue to fly on South Atlantic routes as
well as to Africa.
In view of the current 90% decline in flights and future
expectations, KLM had decided in early March 2020 to phase out its
remaining Boeing 747s as of April 2020 instead of summer 2021. For
the airlift from Amsterdam to Shanghai and Beijing, two Boeing 747
Combi aircraft are now being put back into service specifically for
these two routes and for the indicated period.
“I consider it extremely important that especially in this time
of crisis, KLM can add value to Dutch society through flexibility,
creativity and collaboration,” said Pieter Elbers, President and
CEO of KLM. “Philips’ initiative to team up with KLM to find a
solution for the pressing need for freight capacity between Europe
and China for critical medical equipment and supplies fully
underlines this. I am proud that a joint team of very committed and
professional colleagues from both companies have been able to
create an adequate solution in such a short time frame.”
“Philips and KLM have been important partners for more than a
hundred years,” said Frans van Houten, CEO Royal Philips. “It is
good that we have quickly found each other again in this time of
need to make this important airlift to China possible. In
combination with the existing airlift to the US, we can now
transport essential medical products and supplies faster between
the US, Europe and China, helping healthcare providers more quickly
in their difficult task of fighting the coronavirus.”
For further information, please contact:
Steve KlinkPhilips Global Press OfficeTel.: +31 6
10888824E-mail: steve.klink@philips.com
Leandro MazzoniPhilips Investor RelationsTel.: +31 20 59
77222E-mail: leandro.mazzoni@philips.com
About Royal PhilipsRoyal Philips (NYSE: PHG,
AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on
improving people's health and enabling better outcomes across the
health continuum from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis,
treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and
deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated
solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a
leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient
monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health
and home care. Philips' health technology portfolio generated 2019
sales of EUR 19.5 billion and employs approximately 80,000
employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News
about Philips can be found at
http://www.philips.com/newscenter.
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