COVID-19: Delta Launches Cargo-Only Flights To Atlanta

Amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, Delta Air Lines is set to launch a cargo flight to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport designed to aid the movement of medical supplies and other goods.

Atlanta-based Delta airline added that the Atlanta-Seoul cargo service which would commence from Monday would operate four times a week on Boeing 777-200ER jets and would convey 42 tons of cargo in the cargo hold.

“As part of the operation to move goods from Asia, Delta also is now operating cargo flights between Shanghai and Seoul’s Incheon Airport twice daily.

"Delta suspended passenger flights to Seoul in March, and US airlines have also suspended most of their passenger flights to Asia because of COVID-19.”

Delta Cargo vice president Shawn Cole said in a written statement, “With medical equipment in such high demand, we are doing all we can to help the supply chain and get surgical masks, gloves, gowns and other protective equipment to medical professionals across the country as quickly as we can,”

The Atlanta route is the latest all-cargo service Delta has added, after launching Detroit-Inchon-Shanghai flights and Los Angeles-Incheon-Shanghai flights.

The coronavirus-period cargo-only flights are Delta’s first since its merger partner Northwest’s freighter flights last operated in 2009.