Single business for British Airways and Iberia Cargo

Madrid, 8 of April of 2011
Following the merger of British Airways and Iberia, the airlines’ cargo operations will be run as a single business unit reporting into International Airlines Group (IAG), the holding company created by the merger. Both cargo operations will retain their current brands.

The combined business will be one of the 10 largest air cargo carriers worldwide and will be led by Steve Gunning as managing director and Ignacio Diez Barturen as deputy managing director. They were previously managing directors of BA World Cargo and Iberia Cargo repectively.

Steve Gunning said: “This is great news for our customers. Both British Airways’ and Iberia’s cargo operations are highly successful in their own right, which is why it’s important that they keep their current brands. However, by creating a single business unit, our customers will benefit from an integrated range of products and access to a wider network. We will have one global network with a single sales contact point in every market and consistent customer experience around the world”.

Ignacio Diez Barturen said: “We can combine BA’s network strength in North America, Asia and Africa with Iberia’s in Latin America and both airlines’ significant freighter network. The single business unit also means that we can take advantage of any joint commercial or procurement opportunities and increase the profitability of the overall group. Our ultimate aim is to be better placed to compete successfully on a global scale.”

There will be a small cargo management team within IAG. All other cargo employees will continue to work for their current airline.

In 2010 British Airways’ and Iberia’s cargo operation had a joint turnover of more than € 1.1 billion and operated more than 5,890 million freigh tonne kilometres. They have a combined workforce of more than 2,700 people covering a global network of over 200 airports.