Qantas reopens Melbourne airfreight station after COVID infections

A white Qantas jet with red tail comes in for landing on bright day with wheels lowered. Qantas carries freight in its passenger planes, but it's freight station in Melbourne has been closed because of COVID.

Qantas Airways said Monday that its two freight terminals at Melbourne Airport have been cleared by the Department of Health and Human Services in Victoria, Australia, to reopen.

The Qantas Freight facilities were closed for the past week to deal with an apparent outbreak of COVID-19 among employees.

The warehouses are allowed to gradually reintroduce staff in stages, with a small team returning Monday to clear freight already in the terminal, and prioritize medical and other urgent imports, Qantas Freight said on its website.

Shipments on charter flights coordinated by the Australian government’s International Freight Assistance Mechanism program are still being handled by Menzies Aviation, a ground support company. Qantas is accepting urgent medical shipments moving domestically.

The state of Victoria is under a state of emergency as novel coronavirus cases spike again, jeopardizing air and ocean logistics schedules.

Click here for more FreightWaves/American Shipper stories by Eric Kulisch. / CONTACT: ekulisch@freightwaves.com

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