IAG Cargo customers will soon be able to send shipments on services between London Heathrow and Beijing and Shanghai once again. The cargo division of International Airlines Group (IAG) will be able to use the belly capacity of flights operated by IAG subsidiary British Airways to China, as the country opens up its borders.
From April 23, IAG Cargo customers will be able to export and import goods on a daily rotation between Heathrow Airport in London and Shanghai Pudong International Airport. Additionally, services between London Heathrow and Beijing Daxing Airport will resume on June 3, with four flights each week. The Beijing service will be operated by a British Airways B777-200, while the Shanghai service will be operated by a B787-9.
The additional IAG Cargo capacity is expected to support demand for IT equipment, e-commerce and garment shipments. During the early pandemic period, IAG Cargo offered customers cargo-only services and charters between the UK and China to support the delivery of essential cargo needed for the fight against Covid-19. The business helped governments and private customers transport more than 11,000 tonnes of vital PPE and medical supplies from China.
The last cargo-only service between London Heathrow and Shanghai in was in June 2021, and the last cargo-only service to Beijing was in July 2021. Camilo Garcia Cervera, IAG Cargo chief sales and marketing officer, said: “Europe – China is one of the world’s most important trade lanes, and a vital part of our network; we’re so pleased to be reopening the route after a long pause. “With high-tech items, e-commerce, clothing, and automotive driving both imports and exports, we can help customers to stay better connected with their trading partners across the world. Customers using our services also benefit from our wider network, that continues to grow and spans across six continents.”