Cathay Cargo has operated its first charter flight for the United Nations World Food Programme on behalf of the World Health Organisation. The mission was to help the governments of Belize and Peru combat COVID-19 with frontline medical supplies.

The 65-tonne shipment of personal protective equipment (PPE) was flown from Shanghai to Miami via Hong Kong on a chartered Boeing 747 freighter. Although relatively light compared to the maximum cargo weight of 120 tonnes, the shipment occupied 600 cubic metres, which filled the aircraft’s main and lower deck holds to capacity. The cargo was then carried on to Peru and Belize by local airlines for distribution to the health authorities of both countries.

Head of Cargo Global Partnerships James Conlin said: ‘It is an honour for Cathay Cargo to support the United Nations World Food Programme to deliver life-saving protective equipment to essential frontline healthcare workers in Peru and Belize in support of their fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.’