IAG Cargo

What IAG Cargo does

IAG Cargo is the consolidated air cargo division of International Consolidated Airlines Group S.A. (IAG), the London- and Madrid-listed parent of British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling, and LEVEL. Created in April 2011 through the merger of British Airways World Cargo and Iberia Cargo, the business today operates a unified belly-hold cargo platform across the group's combined fleet of approximately 500 aircraft, serving 250+ destinations with around 12,000 weekly flights. The company employs more than 2,250 people and reported revenue of €1,238 million in 2025, up from €1,156 million in 2023.

The product portfolio spans general cargo (Perform), express delivery (Prioritise), temperature-controlled pharmaceuticals and perishables (Constant Climate, Constant Fresh), high-security and specialist handling (Secure, Dangerous Goods, Live Animals, Pets, Human Remains), premium urgent services (Critical), and — launched in 2026 — a dedicated Aircraft on Ground (AOG) service and a cross-border e-commerce delivery brand (deliver-e) powered by SmartKargo. Distribution is hybrid: direct digital booking via the eBooking platform on IAGCargo.com, enterprise account management, freight forwarder networks and Global Sales Agents, third-party ground handling for non-IAG carriers, and tiered loyalty programs (Forward.Rewards, Forward.Platinum). Underlying technology includes a RESTful cargo API (MakeBooking and Route Availability), IATA eAWB and EDI interchange via SITA/CCS/XML, and approved tracking devices for real-time monitoring.

Revenue is generated primarily through per-shipment transaction fees tied to weight, dimensions, route, and product tier, plus ancillary handling/storage fees, third-party ground handling services, and subscription-equivalent loyalty programs. Customer segments are freight forwarders and logistics companies (primary), pharmaceutical and healthcare shippers (primary), e-commerce retailers and shippers via deliver-e (primary), airlines and MRO providers (via AOG), perishables exporters, and specialized cargo shippers. Strategic positioning is anchored by integration with the IAG passenger network, a Global Cargo Joint Business with Qatar Airways Cargo and MASkargo (announced 2025), a five-year SAF agreement with DHL (2026–2030), and top-three global SAF purchaser status, all of which monetize the existing belly-hold capacity while expanding into third-party handling and ESG-led freight.

Name

IAG Cargo

Legal name

IAG Cargo (division of International Consolidated Airlines Group S.A.)

Website

https://iagcargo.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

IAG Cargo is the air cargo division of International Airlines Group, operating unified belly-hold freight across British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling, and LEVEL. It serves freight forwarders, pharmaceutical shippers, e-commerce retailers, and airlines across 250+ destinations with 12,000 weekly flights.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Air Cargo Services

NAICS

Scheduled Freight Air Transportation (481112), Scheduled Air Transportation (48111), Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation (481212), Couriers and Express Delivery Services (4921), Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510)

SIC

Air Transportation, Scheduled (4512), Air Courier Services (4513), Air Transportation, Nonscheduled (4522), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Full-Service Airlines (Passenger + Belly Cargo Integrated) (THABAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

General Cargo Air Freight Carriers (Scheduled & Charter) (TLADAAAA), Express / Time-Definite Air Cargo Carriers (TLADAAAB), E-commerce Air Cargo Carriers (TLADAAAK), AOG (Aircraft-on-Ground) & Critical Spares Logistics (TLADANAL), Integrated Air Express Carriers (Air + Ground) (TLADAAAC)

Keywords

• Air cargo services
• Air freight transportation
• Pharmaceutical cold chain
• Belly-hold cargo
• Global freight logistics

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Air freight transportation (belly-hold cargo): Revenue from transporting cargo in the belly-hold capacity of passenger aircraft operated by British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling, and LEVEL. Covers general cargo, express, pharmaceuticals, perishables, dangerous goods, live animals, and other freight categories. Charged per shipment based on weight, dimensions, and product tier.
2. Specialized cargo handling services: Revenue from premium handling services including Constant Climate (temperature-controlled pharmaceuticals), Critical (urgent time-sensitive shipments), Prioritise (express delivery), Constant Fresh (perishables), AOG (aircraft parts), Live Animals, Dangerous Goods, and Secure cargo. Ancillary fees for handling, storage (demurrage), and special processing.
3. Third-party ground handling: Revenue from providing cargo ground handling services to third-party carriers. IAG Cargo was appointed as Ground Handling Agent for Qatar Airways Cargo at Dublin International Airport, managing all cargo operations for their 17 weekly belly-hold flights between Dublin and Doha.
4. Loyalty programs (Forward.Rewards, Forward.Platinum): Rewards programs for freight forwarders offering tiered benefits including priority handling, discounted rates, and dedicated account management for high-volume shippers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

IAG Cargo provides international air freight transportation by leveraging the belly-hold capacity of five IAG airlines (British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling, LEVEL) across 250+ destinations with 12,000 weekly flights. It sells a tiered portfolio of cargo products — general cargo (Perform), express (Prioritise, Critical, Courier), temperature-controlled (Constant Climate, Constant Fresh), specialised (AOG, Secure, Dangerous Goods, Live Animals, Human Remains, Pets), and cross-border e-commerce (deliver-e) — to freight forwarders, shippers, and other carriers.

Product overview

IAG Cargo is the cargo division of International Airlines Group (IAG), operating as a comprehensive air freight business following the 2011 merger of British Airways World Cargo and Iberia Cargo, with subsequent integration of Aer Lingus, Vueling, and LEVEL. The company offers a portfolio of cargo products including general cargo (Perform), express delivery (Prioritise), temperature-controlled solutions (Constant Climate, Constant Fresh), specialized services (AOG, Critical, Dangerous Goods, Live Animals, Pets, Human Remains, Secure), and e-commerce solutions (deliver-e). With a network spanning over 250 destinations and 500 aircraft across five airlines, IAG Cargo manages approximately 12,000 flights per week. The business operates through a digital platform including eBooking for online reservations and REST APIs for partner integrations, supported by loyalty programs (Forward.Rewards and Forward.Platinum).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• deliver-e: International delivery service for cross-border e-commerce, powered by SmartKargo technology, offering door-to-door delivery to over 250 destinations
• AOG (Aircraft on Ground)

Products and services

• Perform
• Perform General cargo service for loose and palletised freight transportation, offering fast and economical shipping as the most versatile and reliable transport solution across the IAG Cargo network.
• Prioritise Express delivery solution offering speed, reliability, and priority handling for time-sensitive shipments that must fly.
• Constant Climate Temperature-controlled shipping solution for pharmaceuticals and other temperature-sensitive cargo, with passive and active climate options across the Constant Climate Network.
• Constant Fresh Temperature-controlled solution for perishable goods requiring specific handling conditions during transport.
• Critical Premium 24/7 service for urgent, high-priority shipments requiring immediate transportation and dedicated support.
• Aircraft on Ground (AOG) High-priority service for time-critical aircraft parts delivery when aircraft are grounded, with end-to-end management and dedicated 24/7 specialist teams operating across the IAG network.
• deliver-e Cross-border e-commerce delivery service for UK shippers, providing fast international parcel delivery with clear pricing, end-to-end visibility, and real-time tracking. Currently live for UK-US shipping with planned expansion.
• Courier Express courier service for time-sensitive shipments requiring expedited handling.
• Secure Specialised service for high-value and sensitive cargo requiring enhanced security measures throughout transport.
• Dangerous Goods Transportation of hazardous materials with proper classification, documentation, and handling according to IATA regulations.
• Live Animals Safe and careful transport of live animals including exotic species and endangered animals, fully compliant with IATA Live Animals Regulations and CITES.
• Human Remains Specialised transport service for human remains with dignified handling throughout the journey.
• Airmail International postal transport service for mail shipments.
• Pets Pet transport service operating since the 1950s, working with specialist pet travel agents to ensure highest care standards compliant with IATA Live Animals Regulations.
• Tracking Devices Approved tracking device program allowing customers to monitor cargo location, temperature, humidity, movement, and stability during handling.
• eBooking Online booking platform enabling customers to quote, book, manage reservations, and access real-time pricing and availability for Perform, Prioritise, Constant Fresh, and Constant Climate Passive products.
• Forward.Rewards Loyalty program for IAG Cargo customers offering rewards and benefits for frequent shippers.
• Forward.Platinum Premium tier loyalty program offering enhanced benefits and priority services for top-tier IAG Cargo customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• IAG Cargo achieved €1,238 million in revenue in 2025, up from €1,156 million in 2023
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• DHLcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 April 2026Five-year SAF agreement (2026–2030) enabling approximately 240 million litres of sustainable aviation fuel to be uplifted at London Heathrow Airport. The partnership reduces lifecycle GHG emissions from DHL Express cargo transported on British Airways flights by approximately 640,000 tonnes of CO2e, with potential total reductions exceeding 1 million tonnes under a broader DHL Global Forwarding framework. SAF is sourced from used cooking oil and certified under ISCC standard.
• Qatar Airways Cargo / MASkargo (Global Cargo Joint Business)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 April 2026IAG Cargo, Qatar Airways Cargo, and MASkargo (MALindo Airways/Air Malaysia cargo division) operate a joint cargo business covering shared routes, coordinated capacity, and integrated sales and operations. The alliance supports closer operational integration at key gateways and enables customers to access a combined network spanning the Middle East, Europe, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.
• Qatar Airways CargomajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 February 2026IAG Cargo appointed as Ground Handling Agent at Dublin International Airport (DUB) to provide cargo handling services for Qatar Airways Cargo. Qatar Airways operates 17 weekly belly-hold flights between Dublin and Doha, with all cargo services processed through IAG Cargo's Dublin facility. This forms part of the broader Global Cargo Joint Business between IAG Cargo, MASKargo, and Qatar Airways announced in 2025.
• MASkargomajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 February 2026Joint venture partner in the Global Cargo Joint Business alongside Qatar Airways Cargo. MASkargo's operations at London Heathrow have been integrated under IAG Cargo's handling platform, expanding IAG Cargo's third-party handling capabilities.
• SmartKargocoreTechnology or Integration · 20 February 2026SmartKargo provides the e-commerce logistics platform powering IAG Cargo's deliver-e service, enabling direct booking, automated customs documentation, routing, and real-time tracking for cross-border parcel delivery. The platform integrates IAG Cargo's belly-hold capacity with e-commerce retailers and online marketplaces, offering door-to-door delivery to 250+ global destinations.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Emirates SkyCargo: Cargo division of Emirates, operating one of the world's largest dedicated freighter fleets alongside belly-hold capacity. Comparable to IAG Cargo in product breadth (including pharma, perishables, and dangerous goods) and global reach via a major hub.
• Air France-KLM Cargo: The combined cargo business of Air France and KLM, leveraging belly-hold capacity across a European hub network with global reach. It directly competes with IAG Cargo on transatlantic and intra-Europe freight, and is a fellow top-3 global SAF purchaser.
• Qatar Airways Cargo: One of the world's largest dedicated air cargo carriers and a JV partner with IAG Cargo in the Global Cargo Joint Business. Operates both freighters and belly-hold capacity across a Middle East hub, directly comparable on network reach and product specialization.
• Lufthansa Cargo: The cargo division of the Lufthansa Group, operating a mixture of dedicated freighters and belly-hold capacity across a global network. It is one of the most direct comparables to IAG Cargo in scale, product breadth (including pharma/perishables specializes), and full-service airline integration.
• Singapore Airlines Cargo: Cargo division of Singapore Airlines, operating freighters and leveraging the SIA passenger network. Comparable to IAG Cargo on specialized handling (pharma, perishables) and as a major Asia-anchored belly-hold carrier.
• Cathay Pacific Cargo: Cargo arm of Cathay Pacific, combining dedicated freighters and passenger-belly capacity anchored at Hong Kong. Comparable to IAG Cargo as a full-service airline cargo business with strong pharma and specialized handling capabilities.
• MASkargo: The cargo arm of Malaysia Airlines and a JV partner in the Global Cargo Joint Business with IAG Cargo and Qatar Airways Cargo. Comparable as a regional belly-hold and freighter operator with growing international handling operations.

Broad incumbents

• DHL Express: The world's largest integrator with a dedicated air freight network and broad ground handling. While a much larger enterprise, DHL is directly comparable to IAG Cargo's deliver-e service in cross-border e-commerce and is a key SAF partner to IAG.
• FedEx Express: Global integrator with a large dedicated air fleet and hub network. Comparable to IAG Cargo's express and time-definite products (Prioritise, Critical) and a competitor for cross-border e-commerce shipments.

Others

• Kuehne+Nagel: One of the world's largest freight forwarders and a major buyer of IAG Cargo's belly-hold capacity. Comparable as an ecosystem participant that competes for end-customer relationships while also being a critical channel partner for IAG Cargo.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/IAGCargo
• Xx.com/iagcargo

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IAG Cargo