IAG Cargo’s new record is the cherry on the cake
16 / 12 / 2020
IAG Cargo has transported more than 7m Argentinian and Chilean cherries — the most it’s ever carried on a single flight — from Santiago de Chile to London Heathrow.
Using its Boeing 787-9 and Airbus A350-900 aircraft, the carrier has supported this year’s season, which started in late October, by transporting more than 1,000 tonnes of the fruits from Latin America to Spain, the UK and China. This compares with the 236 tonnes of cherries flown throughout the season last year.
According to US Department of Agriculture data, Chile’s 2020-21 cherry crop year is projected to increase by 12.1% to 286,000 tonnes. Similarly, demand for Argentina’s cherries is also increasing; to support this, IAG Cargo now ships cherries grown in Patagonia.
Additionally, the carrier said, demand for other Chilean and Argentinian perishables has increased. For example, it has supported its exporters by moving more than 6,300 tonnes of salmon, hake, blueberries, corn seeds and stone fruits.
Rodrigo Casal, regional commercial manager for Latin America at IAG Cargo, commented: “Our cherry loads are blossoming and we’ve already quadrupled our 2019 tonnage. When it comes to perishables time is critical, and our specialised advanced cool chain solution Constant Fresh, designed exclusively for the transportation of perishable goods, maximises product shelf life, minimises waste, and preserves quality and integrity until it reaches the supermarket and the consumer.”
IAG Cargo said it flies more than 50,000 tonnes of perishables each year out of Latin America using its Constant Fresh service.
It added that it operates flights from Latin American countries including Brazil, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Mexico, Ecuador and Colombia.
Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, IAG Cargo has also been operating cargo-only flights with its passenger aircraft, as well as charter flights, to maximise cargo capacity for its customers.
