Air Force plans to relocate patients from Memmingen to Paderborn.
In the ongoing battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, the German military has been providing assistance in transporting critically ill patients across the country. According to the Federal Defense Ministry, the cost per flight hour is approximately 26,000 euros.
The A310 MedEvac aircraft, operated by the German Air Force, can accommodate up to six patients during these flights. So far, three such flights have taken place. On November 26, six patients were transported from Memmingen to Münster, followed by the transfer of five COVID-19 patients from Munich to Hamburg on November 28. Last Wednesday, six patients were flown from Dresden to Cologne.
Operation Kleeblatt, the strategic transfer of intensive care patients to less burdened federal states, was activated last week under the nationwide Kleeblatt concept. This operation was primarily set up by German health authorities during the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily in 2020 and 2021, to coordinate the distribution of intensive care patients and balance ICU capacities, avoiding regional overloads.
However, as of 2025, there is no publicly available information or announcement indicating that Operation Kleeblatt remains active or any new plans to reactivate such strategic transfers. The COVID-19 situation in Germany has largely stabilized with widespread vaccination and improved treatments, reducing the need for such large-scale patient transfers.
For the most current official status, it is recommended to consult the German Federal Ministry of Health or the Deutsche Interdisziplinäre Vereinigung für Intensiv- und Notfallmedizin (DIVI), which manages the ICU register and coordination efforts.
Today, another flight under Operation Kleeblatt is scheduled. A Bundeswehr aircraft of the A310 MedEvac type will transport severely ill COVID-19 patients from Memmingen in Bavaria to Paderborn in North Rhine-Westphalia. This will mark the fourth flight of the air force under this operation.
In the realm of health and wellness, the ongoing operation of Operation Kleeblatt involves strategic transfers of critically ill COVID-19 patients, demonstrating an essential role in managing medical conditions during the pandemic. Simultaneously, advancements in science and medical-conditions are closely linked with the development of vaccines and improved treatments, indirectly benefiting sports and overall health by reducing the severity of the pandemic's impact.
