Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Aerospace
  • /
  • Airbus A350-1000 continues fight against COVID-19

Aerospace

Airbus A350-1000 continues fight against COVID-19

Airbus is continuing to purchase and supply millions of face masks from China, the large majority of which will be donated to governments of the Airbus home countries, namely France, Germany, Spain and the UK.

Above: A350-1000 at loading masks in Tianjin, China.
Copyright Airbus

An Airbus flight test crew has just completed its latest mission with an A350-1000 test aircraft. This is the third of such missions between Europe and China. The aircraft returned to France with a cargo of 4 million face masks on Sunday 5 April.

Advertisement
ODU RT

The A350-1000 left Toulouse, France, on Friday 3rd April, reaching the Airbus site in Tianjin, China on 4 April and returning to Hamburg the same day.

Since mid-March, the previous two missions were performed by and A330-800, and A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT). Airbus also deployed an A400M and its Beluga fleet to transport shipments of masks between its European sites, in France, Germany, the UK and Spain.

Airbus will continue to support the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic wherever possible.

"I would like to pay tribute to all the Airbus teams, globally, supporting the fight against COVID-19. They're living our values in assisting those who are saving lives every day”, said Guillaume Faury, Airbus CEO. "

Airbus is focused on the health and safety of its employees and supporting its customers and the industry eco-system with business continuity. At the same time Airbus is contributing to many vital public and private services and working with partners who rely on aircraft, helicopters, space and security solutions to carry out life-saving missions in support of the global pandemic. 

Airbus is deploying its employees, their expertise and know-how and leveraging technology in this fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, for example in designing and manufacturing ventilators and 3D printed visors which are critical resources for hospitals.

Advertisement
PTC rectangle

The Company is partnering with other organisations in unprecedented ways to achieve this goal as fast as possible.

 

 

Advertisement
Gulfstream banner
Milestone reached with expansion of FRA over Scotland

Aerospace

Milestone reached with expansion of FRA over Scotland

24 March 2026

UK airspace modernisation has passed a major milestone with the expansion of Free Route Airspace (FRA) across Scottish Upper Airspace, delivering significant environmental and operational benefits for the aviation industry.

Global carbon standard reveals latest airport climate action worldwide

Aerospace

Global carbon standard reveals latest airport climate action worldwide

24 March 2026

Airports Council International has today published the annual results on carbon performance and participation trends for its global carbon management standard for airports, Airport Carbon Accreditation.

Aircraft orders in February hit three-year high

Aerospace

Aircraft orders in February hit three-year high

24 March 2026

Commercial aircraft orders grew by 83% in February 2026 compared to February 2025 figures, marking the strongest February orderbook since 2023 according to trade association ADS.

British Airways

Aerospace Space

British Airways' first Starlink flight takes off

23 March 2026

British Airways’ first aircraft equipped with Starlink Wi-Fi took off to Houston last Thursday, the first flight operated by a UK airline featuring the innovative technology.

Advertisement
PTC rectangle
Global Innovation Centre opened by ePropelled in Coventry

Aerospace Defence Security

Global Innovation Centre opened by ePropelled in Coventry

23 March 2026

Provider of smart propulsion solutions and energy management systems for uncrewed vehicles, ePropelled, has opened its new Global Innovation Centre in Coventry, expanding the UK’s sovereign capability in electric and hybrid propulsion as the company scales toward producing more than one million propulsion systems annually by 2027.

GE Aerospace to expand UK and European production capacity

Aerospace

GE Aerospace to expand UK and European production capacity

19 March 2026

GE Aerospace plans to invest more than €110 million across its European manufacturing sites this year as it looks to expand production capacity, accelerate advanced manufacturing and strengthen delivery, including significant investment in the upgrade of multiple sites across the UK.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Advertisement
FIA2026 animated banner