IAG Cargo restarts trans-Atlantic routes from BCN, DUB

IAG Cargo has expanded its trans-Atlantic capacity with the resumption of two routes it had closed previously due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The four-times-weekly service from Barcelona El Prat Airport (BCN) to Santiago International Airport (SCL) began Oct. 31, operated by IAG Group carrier Level. The twice-weekly route from Dublin Airport (DUB) to Miami International Airport (MIA) began Oct. 21, and is operated by Aer Lingus. The pandemic posed major challenges for IAG Group passenger flights and led to the closure of several services while the popular route between Spain and Chile continued to operate on a cargo-only basis, Rodrigo Casal, regional commercial manager, Latin America and Caribbean at IAG Cargo, told Air Cargo World . “During that time, we were operating charters and cargo-only schedules between Chile, the U.K. and Spain so that our customers could continue to transport their goods,” Casal said. Barcelona to Santiago [caption id="attachment_57132732" align="alignright" width="366"] Photo/IAG Cargo[/caption] The additional capacity between Spain and Chile will facilitate the transport of stone fruits and the cherries, plums and blueberries that are popular exports from Latin America into Asia. The route will be part of IAG’s Constant Fresh service, which also transports perishables out of Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Peru and Central America, Casal explained. “Due to the local climate, Chile has seen a rapid expansion of its cherry industry in recent years as farmers are able to grow them all year round — which is important for the communities, as a huge part of their economies depend on exporting food and perishables to U.S. and European markets,” he noted. The large crop of Chilean cherries is projected to increase by 19.2% to 465,000 tonnes for the 2022-2023 season, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In turn, IAG saw its Constant Fresh service volumes increase by 114% year over year, according to the carrier’s Oct. 28 third-quarter earnings report . BCN serves as one of IAG’s four main hubs, along with London Heathrow Airport (LHR) , Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) and DUB. Dublin to Miami Meanwhile, Aer Lingus’ DUB-MIA route will operate twice weekly to start and increase service to three times weekly on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, the release stated. The route will also facilitate the transportation of up to 20 tonnes of cargo — equivalent to seven aircraft pallets — per flight. The return in capacity will support Ireland’s growing pharmaceutical industry, where nine of the 10 largest pharmaceutical companies in the world are located, according to the release. See also: Regional Pulse: Ireland volumes driven by health care, high-tech shipments In addition to the two reinstated routes, IAG has added new routes this year, including two direct routes from MAD to Dallas Fort-Worth (DFW) and Washington, D.C. (IAD) that launched in June. The carrier has also added additional flights to Johannesburg (JNB) and Dubai (AUH). IAG is “gearing up for the winter period,” Casal said, adding there will be increased connectivity from Latin America into Europe and the U.K., without providing details on routes. The carrier will also announce new routes in 2023, he added. IAG ranked No. 25 in Air Cargo World ’s most recent Freight 50 ranking of the world’s top cargo carriers based on 2020 tonnage. Join Air Cargo World for our next webinar, “Dangerous goods in focus: Shoring up air cargo logistics,” on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 11 a.m. ET. Click here for more information and to register.

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