Health Air Corridor established just two months ago
The Spanish health technology federation FENIN, the logistics operator Grupo Oesía, and Iberia Airlines marked the end of the second full month of operation of the Health Air Corridor between Spain and the Far East, which had channelled the delivery of 101.8 million units of personal protection equipment (PPEs) and other items to Spain, with a total weight of more than 700 tonnes. The three partners averaged one return flight every two days.
Also participating were the Spanish government ministries of Health, of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, of Finance, and of Industry, Trade, and Tourism, which handled the complex paperwork involved during the global coronavirus health crisis. Spain’s AENA airport and air traffic authority also played a key role in the initiative.
To mark the occasion, on hand to receive the latest shipment to reach the Madrid Airport this morning was Secretary General of Fenin, Margarita Alfonsel, the Executive Chairman of Grupo Oesía, Luis Furnells, and Iberia Sales Manager Guillermo González.
Margarita Alfonsel commented that “collaborating with our country when it was most in need, making it possible to bring hundreds of millions of medical supplies and PPEs makes FENIN and our members feel very proud. The heart on the logo of the Health Air Corridor perfectly represents our sentiments about this initiative which so far has made 32 flights”.
On behalf of the Grupo Oesía, Luis Furnells said the logistics group was also proud of its contribution. “I could the results from up close at the hospitals in the Castilla-La Mancha region, where we delivered 1.7 million items. The Corridor was one of 12 initiatives by our group in the past two months,” he said, adding that the corridor will continue to operate through June, since private companies were now calling for more PPEs. and domestic production, though rising, could still not keep up with demand. While intensive care units were now well supplied, Furnells said reserve of supplies should be held in case there is a new upsurge in cases.
Iberia’s Guillermo González expressed his satisfaction that “the collaboration with FENIN and Grupo Oesía in the Health Air Corridor has enabled us to bring the supplies Spain needs so badly at this time --nothing is more gratifying for us in Iberia than to be of help with such a critical project”.
Contribution by the three partners
FENIN, Grupo Oesía, and Iberia brought to bear their respective technological and , logistical capabilities, their experience, and their talent in this endeavour.
- FENIN contributed its knowledge of the health technology sector and its existing relations with all Spanish health authorities, acquired over the past 40 years.
- Grupo Oesía provided its logistics infrastructure and know-how, and set up a special coordination centre for this project, managed from its installations in Madrid and in Valdepeñas in Ciudad Real province where the Tecnobit-Grupo Oesía engineering unit is located. It also made good use of its relations with numerous public agencies, including state security forces which have played a major role in dealing with the crisis.
- Iberia supplied the aircraft of flight crews. Specially adapted passenger craft were used to carry the cargo from China to Spain.
The more than 100 million items brought to Spain included.
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