IAG Cargo, the single business created following the merger of British Airways World Cargo and Iberia Cargo, has announced the launch of thrice weekly cargo service between London Heathrow and Chengdu in south-west China. The Boeing 777 service, set to launch on the 22nd September 2013, will provide wide-body capacity to support Chengdu's manufacturing sector, which is experiencing rapid growth. The new service will connect businesses in the region to IAG Cargo's global network, delivering easy access to the world's most important trade markets. On the outward legs, flights will depart Heathrow on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 1530, arriving in Chengdu at 0855 the following day. The return legs, meanwhile, will see flights depart Chengdu on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 1055, arriving at Heathrow at 1500. For Chinese and international businesses alike, the direct flights will provide an important trade link and deliver greater flexibility when delivering goods between China and Europe. "Over the last few years we have seen a migration in manufacturing from the Yangtze River Delta to the Sichuan Province in China, centred on its capital city, Chengdu. This new service will help us support customers in this region by connecting them to our global network via our Heathrow hub. Trade with China is more important than ever to businesses around the world, and we want to do all we can to ensure that customers are well placed to exploit the opportunities this market provides", said John Cheetham, Regional Commercial Manager for APAC at IAG Cargo (mar)