IAG Cargo inaugurates London-Tehran service

Tehran’s re-integration into the global economy is driving demand for air cargo, said IAG Cargo, which today launched six flights per week to and from Iran. The route will be served by a British Airways 777-200 aircraft, with belly-hold capacity for six pallets and up to 20 tonnes of lift on each flight. IAG Cargo is currently one of the only cargo carriers to directly connect the two cities.

“With the second-largest economy in the MENA [Middle East and North Africa] region, Iran offers a huge opportunity for global trade,” said David Shepherd, IAG Cargo’s head of commercial. “The country’s predicted economic growth over the coming years means that connecting Iran via our London hub to the rest of the world will be of real benefit to our customers.”

Iran’s economy is expected to grow by 4.8 percent and 5.4 percent in 2016 and 2017, respectively, IAG noted.

In January 2016, the European Council lifted all nuclear-related economic and financial European Union sanctions against Iran, opening up Iran-EU routes for the sort of high-value cargo that IAG is looking to carry. The United States government, however, continues to impose restrictions that prevent most American corporations and citizens from trading with or investing in the Islamic Republic, complicating among others, a $25 billion Boeing deal.

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