IAG Cargo is starting two new short-haul freighter routes operating from Madrid to Amsterdam and Frankfurt to London via Paris.

The Airbus A300 freighter Madrid – Amsterdam service was launched on 18 August and will enable easier access for shipments between the Dutch capital and Latin America. The A300 has a 42 tonne payload and IAG Cargo says the operation will significantly reduce transit times via truck.

The same aircraft will be used on the once a week Frankfurt – Paris – London route, which starts on 24 August and trucking connections will be available for the Frankfurt – Paris flight from London Luton to Heathrow and Gatwick.

IAG Cargo head of sales, Camilo Garcia says: “This European capacity expansion comes as a direct result of customer demand and complements upgrades made to the Milan and Oporto services at the beginning of 2016.”

“The new Madrid – Amsterdam service in particular will enable highly efficient access to and from the growing Latin American pharmaceutical market, while the new Paris, Frankfurt, London “triangle” enables us to offer important capacity in two key European markets.”

The Madrid – Amsterdam flight will operate on Thursdays and Saturdays and the Frankfurt – Paris – London service will fly on Wednesdays, complementing the Saturday Paris – London service.