IAG’s Iberia has launched its non-stop Airbus A330-200 flight between Madrid and Shanghai.

“Our new direct route from Madrid to Shanghai will provide our customers with better connections between East Asia and Latin America and to our wider network which spans over 350 destinations,” said David Shepherd, head of commercial at IAG Cargo.

IAG will also boost its British Airways flights between London Heathrow and Shanghai in the winter 2016 schedule, with a second daily flight three times per week. The new flights will be operated by a Boeing 777-200ER, which will be replaced with a 787-9 in winter 2017.

According to IAG, the Shanghai region will see a 65% increase in weekly cargo capacity in winter 2016 compared to winter 2015.

“With high-technology goods, pharmaceuticals and automobile parts driving both imports and exports and our additional services and larger, more cargo-friendly aircraft, we are able to offer forwarders greater flexibility and efficiency over where and when they ship their goods,” said Shepherd. “With the noted general global growth in e-commerce transactions, this additional Asia-Pacific capacity and frequency will allow forwarders to respond swiftly to any sudden increases in demand. This will be of particular benefit when we head into peak season.”