IAG Cargo lands in Tehran

The cargo handling division of International Airlines Group has commenced a new service from London to Tehran, offering air cargo forwarders six flights per week to and from Iran through this service.    IAG Cargo has started a new service from London to Tehran, making it one of the few cargo airlines to directly connect the two cities.
   Air cargo forwarders will have access to six flights per week to and from Iran through this service. The route will be served by a British Airways Boeing 777- 200, providing belly-hold capacity for six pallets and up to 20 tons of lift on each flight.
   The new route comes as a result of the easing of EU sanctions against Iran.
   With the country’s economy in 2016 and 2017 expected to grow by 4.8 percent and 5.4 percent, respectively, the airline forecasts that its new service will offer shippers a “significant trading opportunity.”
   “Iran offers a huge opportunity for global trade,” said David Shephard, commercial head at IAG Cargo, in a statement. “The country’s predicted economic growth over the coming years means that connecting Iran via our London hub to the rest of the world will be of real benefit to our customers.”
   Flights to Tehran depart Heathrow at 9:10 p.m., arriving at 6:25 a.m. local time. Returning flights leave Tehran at 8:35 a.m. and arrive in Heathrow at 11:10 a.m., “enabling next-day connections to almost all destinations on the IAG Cargo network,” the airline said.