Desperate Airlines Swap Passengers for Cargo to Stay Afloat

With few passengers left, airlines look to goods for revenue
Global trade holds up amid strong demand for medical supplies

Medical supplies sit in front of an Air China aircraft at Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport in Greece, March 21.Photographer: Angelos Tzortzinis/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Photo

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By Kyunghee Park

March 25, 2020 at 9:00 PM UTC

Updated on

March 26, 2020 at 10:34 AM UTC

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Unable to fill planes with passengers as the coronavirus destroys travel demand, airlines are instead using their fleets to transport more cargo, including medicines, smartphones and Korean strawberries.