From this summer, IAG Cargo is starting a new route into Colombia and reopening its route into Cuba. The new services will connect Cali and Medellín in Colombia and Havana in Cuba to IAG Cargo’s worldwide network of 350 destinations, and will bring the total of IAG Cargo gateways in Latin America to 19. Additionally, IAG Cargo is increasing the number of flights it offers to and from Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic from five flights a week to daily, effective from1 April 2015.

IAG Cargo will resume operations between its Madrid hub and Havana, Cuba. Commencing on 1 June 2015, IAG Cargo will operate services on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, totalling five weekly flights.

The new route from Madrid to the Colombian cities of Cali and Medellin, meanwhile, will operate as triangular flights between Madrid-Medellin-Cali-Madrid. Services will begin on 3 July. Both routes will be serviced by Airbus A330s and the flights are timed for good connections at Iberia’s T4 hub.

Steve Gunning, CEO at IAG Cargo, commented: “From pharmaceuticals to perishables Latin America is fast emerging as one of the most important international trade centres – both for production and consumption. From our Madrid hub we have already been able to offer businesses In Latin America and beyond some of the best connectivity options in the world, linking up markets from Asia Pacific all the way across Europe and into Latin America.”

IAG Cargo expects to see good export flows of flowers and fruits from Cali and Medellín and imports including books and clothes.

Cuba’s famous tobacco products, meanwhile, are expected to be amongst the main exports out of Havana, while imports should comprise perishables and mechanical goods. Havana is also an important stopover for the transhipment of goods including flowers, fruits and textiles.

On the Santo Domingo route meanwhile, IAG Cargo will continue to support the strong flows of general freight into the Dominican Republic and fruit and vegetables exiting it.