In just over four years, the five-days a week B777 freighter service operated by IAG Cargo from Hong Kong to London Stansted has moved the equivalent to over 11,500 African elephants in weight.
The 1000th flight of IAG Cargo’s Hong Kong to London Stansted Freighter agreement with Qatar Airways recently touched down in the UK.
Launched on May 1, 2014, the service has become vital for exporters in the region seeking access to Latin American markets, says AG Cargo’s regional manager for APAC, Pravin Singh (pictured).
“We are finding that IAG’s LATAM routes are popular from Hong Kong,” he says.
IAG Cargo considers that practically all cargo moved in the Qatar Airways freighters, is being transshipped over Hong Kong as the city possesses little in the way of manufacturing.
“There is a lack of manufacturing in Hong Kong so very little is coming out of the city,” he says.
Most flights on the service are near capacity, with e-Commerce items shaping much of the traffic, says Singh. This is reflected in the diversity of commodities carried, from garments to CCTV equipment to tablet PCs and headphones to watches.
Fashions and trends can lead to unusual cargoes for Singh and his team. He says: “Last year, we carried an enormous number of fidget spinners.”
The service follows the signing in May, 2014 of a long-term contract for a block space agreement with Qatar Airways to operate five 777F flights a week, equivalent to over 400 tonnes, between Hong Kong and London Stansted.
