IAG Cargo has restarted cargo-only services to Bangkok and Hong Kong from London Heathrow as consumer online spending continues to accelerate.
Daily flights from London Heathrow-Hong Kong will restart on June 1 and four-times weekly flights between London Heathrow–Bangkok restarted on May 24.
The cargo division of International Airlines Group said that ehe flights will be served by B787-9 aircraft, moving essential e-commerce goods, pharmaceuticals, and perishables
Since the start of the pandemic the business has completed over 250 cargo-only flights between London-Heathrow and Hong Kong.
The early cargo-only flights in April 2020 mainly carried vital PPE, such as hand sanitiser, gloves, masks etc. Then, three months into the pandemic the business saw major uplift of e-commerce and as more people worked-from-home and upgraded their home tech set-ups, this reflected in the consignments that were shipped.
In 2021, IAG Cargo saw a 32% increase for its Prioritise service which is popular with e-commerce customers.
IAG Cargo anticipates that e-commerce will continue to be a major growth sector for the business into 2022 and beyond.
The pandemic has turbocharged an existing trend for the online purchase of goods and services, and this has continued to grow. Additionally, pharmaceuticals, perishables and European supermarket goods are flown into the region.
Daniel Byrne, Regional Commercial Manager UK and Ireland at IAG Cargo said: “I’m really pleased that we’ve been able to add these services, Hong Kong and Bangkok are an important part of our network with goods manufactured in the Far East popular with consumers across the world.
“With summer shaping up to be a busy period for IAG Cargo and our customers, this airbridge is vital for the movement of e-commerce and perishable foodstuffs, which are in high demand throughout the year.
Eligible customers seeking to use IAG Cargo’s services into Hong Kong and Bangkok will be able to benefit from IAG Cargo’s loyalty programmes: Forward.Rewards and Forward.Platinum.
