American Airlines has expanded its cargo-only schedule in May to provide 140 weekly flights to 15 cities in Asia Pacific, Europe and the Caribbean.

In a statement, it said the new destinations include daily flights between Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) and Hong Kong (HKG); and weekly flights from DFW and Beijing (PEK); DFW Chicago (ORD) and Paris (CDG); ORD and London Heathrow (LHR); Philadelphia (PHL) and Rome (FCO); PHL and San Juan (SJU), and PHL and Zurich (ZRH).

The expanded freight schedule is almost double the 80 flights it operated the last week.

The airline noted that cargo flights have played a significant role in the history of American Airlines. And in the face of a global pandemic, cargo flights are once again essential.

“Cargo-only fights have allowed us to transport medical equipment, communications and technology tools, pharmaceuticals and food supplies,” said Rick Elieson, president of cargo and vice president of international operations.

“Air cargo is uniquely positioned to connect the world at a time when barriers and distance threaten to separate us. I’m immensely proud of our teams and business partners who have come together to make these flights possible,” he added.

American noted that it is a key player in the 35% of world trade that moves by air cargo, carrying 2 billion pounds of goods annually in the bellies of its passenger aircraft.

And now more than ever before, air cargo plays a significant role in connecting the world with critical goods — transporting fresh produce, shipping temperature-controlled drug trials for coronavirus (COVID-19) and filling aircraft full of PPE.