IAG Cargo hopes to benefit from expanded Americas capacity

IAG Cargo will expand its Americas capacity by utilising the belly capacity of new British Airways (BA) passenger flights to Aruba and Guyana.

The cargo division of International Airlines Group (IAG) will offer capacity on new passenger routes to Aruba (Oranjestad) via Antigua from March 26, and Guyana (Georgetown) via St Lucia from March 27.

Both services will operate twice a week on a BA-operated Boeing B777-200 widebody aircraft from from London Gatwick Airport.

Perishables, local produce and oil equipment are amongst the exports that this capacity will serve, said IAG Cargo.

Rodrigo Casal, regional commercial manager for Latin America at IAG Cargo, said: “We’re delighted to be able to provide more capacity to the Americas, enabling our customers to reach further destinations through our key hubs.

“The movement of cargo between Europe and Americas represents an important trade route, and with our specialist products such as Critical and Constant Climate we’re able to offer a speedy service and ensure that goods stay in perfect condition every step of the journey.”

From March 26, IAG Cargo will also offer a direct three-times-weekly service between London Gatwick and Trinidad, which was previously reached via St Lucia.

IAG Cargo utilises the belly capacity of IAG’s subsidiary airlines British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, Vueling and LEVEL. It also has partnerships that provide access to freighter capacity.

Last month, IAG Cargo increased its widebody freighter capacity from London Heathrow to Amsterdam to twice a week. Air Cargo News understands a third party is operating the service.

IAG Cargo does not currently have any freighters and previously said it has no current plans to invest in freighters.