Virgin Atlantic plans to run more than 90 cargo-only flights a week in May after the collapse of passenger demand due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The airline’s first cargo-only flights from Dublin to London will provide same day connections to New York, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tel Aviv and Johannesburg.
The other destination to be served is Mumbai with two flights a week.
Services will be operated by the airline’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, which can carry up to 55 tonnes of cargo.
With 14 aircraft at its disposal for cargo-only operations, including four Airbus A350s capable of carrying up to 49 tonnes of goods, the carrier will also increase its ability to offer cargo charters, which currently average 13 flights a week.
Virgin Atlantic partnered with the Department of Health and Social Care and the NHS, to run nine cargo-only flights from Shanghai to Heathrow in April, bringing 150 tonnes of medical equipment, supplies and PPE, transported in 12,000 boxes, carrying more than 4.2 million individual items.
The Civil Aviation Authority has given special dispensation for the 26-hour round trips.
Virgin Atlantic Cargo managing director Dominic Kennedy said: “It is a testament to our teams that we have completely re-engineered our cargo business into a successful freight-only operation enabling businesses to re-establish trade routes and transport essential supplies around the world”
“Despite a decrease in passengers travelling, demand to transport cargo remains strong and in a short space of time, we have increased our schedules in line with demand.
“We want to play a leading role in Britain doing business again, as the country looks to re-energise the UK economy.
“In addition, we’re looking forward to continuing to partner with the Department for Health and the NHS, working with them on daily flights from Shanghai to London throughout May, June and July transporting over 1,500 tonnes of supplies that the teams here in the UK urgently need to care for patients.”