More than 400,000 surgical masks destined for the NHS have been loaded on to trucks at Airbus’ headquarters in Toulouse, France, and are on their way to the UK.
The cargo is part of a total of six million surgical masks that have already been brought to Europe from China using several Airbus test aircraft.
Airbus, which employs thousands of workers at Broughton, North Wales, and in Filton, near Bristol, has established an air bridge to China to bring large quantities of surgical masks to Europe to support governments in the fight against Covid-19.
(Image: Airbus)
The first UK consignment of face masks – 406,000 surgical FFP3 masks and about 1,000 FFP2 masks – is due to arrive at Airbus’ Broughton site on Friday (April 3).
The news comes as the aerospace giant lobbies the government to support Virgin Atlantic with financial aid amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Virgin is reportedly due to ask Downing Street for a package of commercial loans and guarantees worth hundreds of millions of pounds.
Airbus and others in the aviation sector such as Rolls Royce and Heathrow are reportedly urging the government to save the airline.
Richard Branson, the billionaire founder of the carrier, has already offered to inject $250million into the Virgin Group with a large portion due to go to the airline.
It comes as the aircraft deliveries dive to a record low as the aviation industry struggles with the impact of the virus outbreak.