IAG Cargo has today announced the launch of a new B777-200 Cape Town, South Africa service, set to operate three times a week from London Gatwick. From November 24th 2016 the additional service will be running throughout the winter schedule.
This extra capacity will benefit the buoyant perishables market in Africa. Over the past 12 months IAG Cargo has seen volumes of mangoes, avocadoes and pineapples, as well as floriculture continue to perform extremely well out of South Africa.
Figures from the Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB) show that the Middle East, the European Union and the USA were major importers from South Africa last year. The PPCEB 2015 annual report recorded bullish year-on-year export volume performances in avocados which increased by 26 per cent and citrus which saw 2 per cent growth. In total, 55 per cent of South Africa’s subtropical fruit including avocados, mangoes, pineapples, and passion fruit was exported to the EU last year [view PDF].
This new route supplements the three times a week A330-300 Madrid- Johannesburg service, due to start August 1st, and the existing London Heathrow - Cape Town and Johannesburg services already operated by IAG Cargo. The new Cape Town route brings total flights to the country from both IAG’s London and Madrid hubs to 27 per week by the end of the year, offering customers a weekly lift of up to 440 tonnes into South Africa.
