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

Between the 11 – 19th of April, 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 publicized 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 Prioritize 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 IAG Cargo Regional Commercial Manager for the Americas commented: “Every year IAG Cargo transports thousands of tons 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% of shipments coming in from Los Angeles Airport and 57% from Peru and Ecuador.”

Eligible customers seeking to book their freight with IAG Cargo can benefit from its loyalty program – FORWARD.REWARDS and FORWARD.PLATNUM, and currently they can earn double points on shipments from LATAM to Europe until 10th June.