U.K. Need for Ventilators, Virus Tests to Spur Cargo Flights 50%

(Bloomberg) --

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 . 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.

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