Japanese Airlines To Use Cabin Space For Cargo
Two major airline companies in Japan say they will use the cabin area of their passenger planes to transport medical supplies from overseas amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The drop in the number of travelers because of the virus has forced Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways to cancel 90 percent of their international flights.
The companies say they will use the cabin space for the transport of cargo. They add that the cargo compartment of passenger jets is often fully loaded even if the cabin is empty.
They say they will use the cabin space to transport face masks and medical gowns.
They plan to put the supplies in overhead lockers and also attach them to seats.
Japan Airlines says it will start using cabin lockers on its flights from China on Monday. All Nippon Airways says it will use the seats on a trial basis as early as this week.
The airlines say planes will not carry passengers when the cabins are used for cargo.
All Nippon Airways says a cabin with about 200 seats and a cargo compartment combined can carry some 22 tons of freight. The figure is approximately 1.4 times the capacity of the cargo compartment alone.
