Patriots Owner Taps Universal for Delivery of 1M Masks

Yet again, Universal Weather and Aviation found itself handling the logistics for another mission to transport one million masks from China to the U.S.—this time using the New England Patriots football team’s Boeing 767, according to a blog post.

Universal was contacted by Patriots owner Robert Kraft’s company, the Kraft Group, for help with the overseas mission that was initiated by Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker after striking a deal with Chinese manufacturer Tencent to acquire the masks for the state’s healthcare workers on the front lines of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Its assistance included consulting the Kraft Group and Tencent on a plan and guidelines to get permission from the U.S. and Chinese embassies, as well as leveraging Universal's contacts within the Civil Aviation Administration of China. Universal also advised the Kraft Group on the technical side, which had to equip the 767 with new avionics to make the overseas flight.

Lastly, Universal sent team member Eric Tang from Beijing to Shenzen to source and arrange a 25-member crew to load the masks aboard the Boeing widebody. Tang also coordinated delivery of the masks, which were scattered among several warehouses in Shenzen, to the airport.

In a separate announcement, Universal said it would waive certain fees—trip feasibility assessments, research, consultation services, and ground handling setup charges—for any mission classified as a humanitarian medical supply flight.