IAG recently begun considering recruiting passenger aircraft to carry out air freight operations, to help maintain essential cargo supplies are maintained as the Covis-19 epidemic continues.
Korean Air has already begun using passenger aircraft to transport cargo on suspended passenger routes.
“Governments need to appreciate” that there is a strong cargo demand, and passenger aircraft carry a large proportion of global air freight.
“Our intention is to try and keep as much of our capacity available for critical supplies that need to be shipped around the world,” says William M. Walsh CEO of International Airlines Group.
“We may operate some of our passenger aircraft just for belly-hold cargo to ensure we keep critical supplies moving.”
In response to falling demand and restrictions imposed on travel IAG will cut 75% of its capacity, ground dozens of aircraft.
“A number of airports have provided us with alleviation on parking charges“. he added.
“Charging structures at airports are often designed to be very penalising to aircraft being parked so we would expect airports to play their part. We’ve had good co-operation so far and we’ve already started parking a number of aircraft away from our home base. And we do have significant flexibility to park aircraft on British Airways-controlled property around [London] Heathrow.”
