IAG Cargo flies a record 2,361 tonnes of asparagus in 2021 to the UK and Europe

IAG Cargo flew 2,361 tonnes of asparagus to the UK and Europe between January and April this year – a record for the business. This represents an 86 percent increase in demand compared to the 1,270 tonnes it shipped in the same period in 2020. 

Between April 11-19, around 59,249 kilos of asparagus were shipped to London Heathrow, coinciding with the reopening of UK restaurants on 12 April. IAG Cargo’s Prioritise solution – its express solution (product) which offers the fastest publicised cut-off and delivery times of any air carrier – was used for many of the flights, highlighting the spike in demand for the vegetable and need for maximum freshness.

Madrid was another popular destination for asparagus during the period, with 1,282 tonnes delivered there. Again, IAG Cargo’s dedicated Prioritise facility came to the fore in providing a rapid service.

Overall, it is estimated that IAG Cargo has shipped 26.2 million servings of asparagus to date in 2021, a notable proportion of which was shipped via five charters dedicated to the vegetable.

Pravin Singh, regional commercial manager for the Americas,  IAG Cargo, commented, “Every year IAG Cargo transports thousands of tonnes of food stuffs across the world, keeping varied and much-loved produce landing on restaurant plates and shop shelves. Due to unseasonably cold and wet weather in Europe, the recent surge in demand for asparagus has been met by producers in the United States and Latin America, with 43 percent of shipments coming in from Los Angeles Airport and 57 percent from Peru and Ecuador.”