IAG Cargo has unveiled an expanded summer 2026 schedule, introducing new transatlantic connections and increasing capacity across key global trade lanes, as the carrier responds to sustained demand for flexible and time-critical freight services.
A central highlight of the schedule is the launch of a new direct route between London Heathrow Airport and St. Louis Lambert International Airport, set to commence on 19 April 2026. Operating four times per week through October, the service establishes the only nonstop connection between Heathrow and the U.S. Midwest hub, offering freight forwarders faster access to key manufacturing and aerospace supply chains in the region. The addition brings IAG Cargo’s U.S. network to 27 destinations.
The summer programme also includes significant frequency increases across major North American gateways. Services between Heathrow and O’Hare International Airport as well as Washington Dulles International Airport will rise from 14 to 21 flights per week. Meanwhile, routes to San Diego International Airport and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport will double in frequency from seven to 14 weekly services, reflecting growing cargo demand across U.S. regional markets.
In parallel, IAG Cargo is strengthening intra-European connectivity to support long-haul flows. Additional widebody capacity between Heathrow and Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport will enhance feed into transatlantic services, improving routing flexibility for shipments moving between Europe, North America, and Latin America. Madrid will also see the resumption of services to San Francisco International Airport, further reinforcing network depth.
Across Asia, frequencies between Heathrow and Tokyo Haneda Airport will increase to double daily, strengthening capacity on a critical Europe–Asia corridor and supporting high-value and time-sensitive cargo flows.
The carrier is also expanding its footprint in Canada, with increased services between Heathrow and Vancouver International Airport. Frequencies will rise from seven to 10 weekly flights, peaking at 14 during the summer high season in July and August. Additionally, a new daily seasonal service between London Gatwick Airport and Vancouver will operate from May through September, providing further uplift during peak demand periods.
Camilo Garcia Cervera, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at IAG Cargo, said the expanded schedule is designed to offer greater optionality for logistics partners navigating increasingly complex global supply chains.
“This summer schedule is focused on giving freight forwarding partners greater choice and flexibility across key global trade lanes. The addition of St. Louis opens up important access into the U.S. Midwest, while increased frequencies across North America, expanded connectivity via Madrid and additional capacity to Haneda and Canada ensure we can support a wide range of time-critical and high-value shipments,” he said.
Operating from major hubs including London, Madrid, Dublin and Barcelona, IAG Cargo maintains a broad global network spanning six continents. Heathrow alone supports capacity on more than 700 weekly widebody services, while Dublin functions as a strategic transatlantic gateway with approximately 100 weekly rotations. Madrid and Barcelona together contribute an additional 275 weekly widebody connections linking Europe with North America, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
Alongside network expansion, the carrier continues to develop specialised logistics offerings, including its recently introduced Aircraft on Ground (AOG) service, designed to expedite the movement of critical aircraft components and minimise operational downtime for airline customers.
