Porsche leads effort to fly PPEs to Germany

• Sports car maker partners with DB Schenker and Lufthansa Cargo in project
• Since early April, six flights a week have transported the medical items 
• By end of May, cargo will have amounted to over a hundred million euros

Porsche is leading a project that ensures medical protective equipment intended to stem the tide of COVID-19 reach hospitals, emergency service units and other institutions in Germany.

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Together with logistics partners DB Schenker and Lufthansa Cargo, Porsche since April 9 has been organizing the supply chain and airlifting of protective masks, goggles and suits from Shanghai, China, to Germany. To date, at least six aircrafts a week have been transporting the cargo to Frankfurt and Munich, where the materials are then trucked to a warehouse at Stuttgart airport. From there, authorities from the German states of Saxony and Baden-Wurttemberg take over the distribution of the protective equipment to concerned agencies.

Since the flights started, several million masks rated with various protection classes, as well as protective suits and goggles, have arrived in Stuttgart. By the end of May, it is estimated that the materials reaching Germany will have amounted to over a hundred million euros, and a collective volume that have required up to 50 passenger aircrafts to transport.

“Everyone is contributing their strengths in this joint effort, and it is working extremely well. At the moment it is more than ever about getting involved, showing consideration for others, and taking on responsibility—central values of our Porsche culture,” said Uwe-Karsten Stadter, a member of the Executive Board for Procurement at Porsche AG.

Meanwhile, DB Schenker said it is pleased that it is able to maintain the supply chains for the medical products, citing its network in almost 140 countries is guaranteeing the supplies reach the people who need these. For its part, Lufthansa Cargo said using passenger aircrafts as freight planes further ensure the medical equipment arrive safely in Germany.