IAG Cargo has had a significant presence in the Indian market this year, flying hundreds of flights since the lockdown. This includes the record-breaking flight for the group between Mumbai and London in September. IAG has added new routes from India and transported everything from COVID-19 therapies to fresh fruits during the pandemic. Let’s find out more about why India has become a focus country for IAG.
IAG Cargo has rapidly expanded its footprint in India this year, adding more flights and destinations. Previously, most of the group’s operations were conducted through cargo carried in the belly of passenger British Airways flights. However, the suspension of international flights meant IAG began using aircraft for cargo-only missions out of India too.
When India first eased lockdown restrictions in May, the group added four services out of Mumbai Airport to meet the growing demand. According to IAG Cargo Magazine, the group saw so much demand from India that it decided to step up operations drastically.
To meet the demand, IAG Cargo added flights from Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Chennai. This has brought the group’s total number of flights to 23 cargo and passenger flights (India reopened travel in July under travel bubble agreements). But why has IAG seen so much success from India?
Like many countries, India closed its borders to international flights in late March, severely impacting cargo capacity. Over 60% of global freight is carried in the belly of passenger planes, which means a grounding on all flights would cripple cargo operations. With passenger flights out of the picture, the demand for cargo services skyrocketed globally.
IAG Cargo has taken advantage of this gap in capacity, sending in passenger aircraft to fly cargo-only missions. These converted freighters (or “preighters,” if you will) has allowed the group to provide key cargo flights when most other airlines have their aircraft sitting on the ground.
When it comes to the contents of its cargo, IAG has carried a variety of products on its flights. Notable cargo included fresh produce such as mangoes, pharmaceuticals, vaccines for polio, rabies, and more, as well as critical COVID-19 therapies such as remdesivir. To summarize, the group says, “We’ve carried everything under the sun”.
19/11/20 Pranjal Pande/Simple Flying
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