The spread of the coronavirus requires as many medical personnel as possible to be available to help stop the spread and treat the ill. In response German airline, Lufthansa, is allowing employees who have completed medical training to be released quickly and unbureaucratically should they wish to volunteer to work in medical facilities. Lufthansa will continue to pay the full basic salary to such staff, and further details are currently being worked out, according to the airline.
Another response by the overall Lufthansa Group of airlines is that, in order to bring as many people as possible back home quickly, Lufthansa, Eurowings, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Edelweiss will operate special flights all over the world to bring home more than 20,000 people. In consultation with the governments of their home markets and on behalf of tourism companies and cruise lines, Lufthansa Group airlines are currently offering around 140 special flights, with further special flights due to follow in the next few days.
In addition, the Lufthansa Group is working to ensure that the flow of cargo in Germany and Europe does not come to a standstill. Lufthansa Cargo continues to fly its regular programme, except for cancellations to mainland China, and is keeping its entire freighter fleet in the air.
