IAG Cargo has today announced that it will be launching a new route to Santiago, Chile. From Winter 2016, the airline will become the only carrier to fly direct from its London Heathrow (LHR) hub to Santiago International Airport (SCL). With the new service, IAG Cargo will now be able to offer customers a weekly lift of up to 3,360 tonnes into Latin America.

The new service is set to become IAG Cargo’s longest direct route and will be served by a BA 787-9 aircraft. With flights operating four times a week to and from Santiago, the new route adds to IAG Cargo’s expansion into Latin America. From summer 2016, IAG Cargo will also operate new direct flights from Madrid to San Juan, Puerto Rico and from London Gatwick to San Jose, Costa Rica and Lima, Peru. 

Camilo Garcia, Head of Sales, at IAG Cargo commented: “This new route adds to our expanding network in Latin America. With perishables and pharmaceutical goods being key export commodities for this region. Our next generation aircraft with temperature control in the hold ensures that our time and temperature sensitive products are delivered in optimum condition for our customers”.

”This new development augments IAG Cargo’s existing route into Santiago from Madrid, which helps to better connect our customers to the 350+ destinations on IAG Cargo’s global network”.

In previous years, commodities such as vegetables, fruit and flowers have been key exports from Latin America. In Chile, one of Latin America’s most competitive economies, exports have traditionally included berries, stone fruits, grapes, seeds, fresh fish, wine and minerals; with imports focusing on vehicle parts and computing equipment.

IAG Cargo’s offering of premium products, such as Constant Climate and Constant Fresh, ensures shippers and forwarders are able to transport sensitive goods across IAG Cargo’s extensive global network.