Iberia Cargo (Spain)

Airline overview

Iberia is the Spanish flag carrier, founded in 1927, with headquarters and main hub at Madrid-Barajas Airport. Its IATA code is IB, ICAO code IBE and radio call sign IBERIA. It is a member of the oneworld alliance. The network covers Europe, Latin America, North America, Africa and the Middle East, and the Madrid hub handles transit and consolidation between Europe and Latin America. The website is iberia.com and cargo services sit under the Cargo section.

Iberia Cargo draws its capacity mainly from the belly holds of passenger flights. Its cargo accounting code, the air waybill prefix, is 075. Madrid-Barajas is the cargo hub, where freight is transited, cleared and deconsolidated before connecting to European points and transatlantic routes. Public information shows Latin American points covering Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Guatemala and Cuba, forming a dense network between Europe and Latin America.

No public information shows scheduled freighter operations; cargo moves in passenger belly holds, and the former cargo subsidiary Cargosur has ceased operations. Belly capacity follows the passenger schedule, so frequencies are steady but payload per flight depends on passenger and baggage loads, and space tightens quickly around peak seasons and holidays.

Iberia opened a nonstop Madrid to Shanghai Pudong route in 2016 with Airbus A330-200 aircraft, three times weekly, its first Asian point; the route was later suspended. As of the time of compilation, no public information shows Iberia operating scheduled nonstop flights from mainland China itself. In December 2025 Iberia signed a codeshare agreement with China Southern Airlines: China Southern's Guangzhou to Madrid route, three times weekly, carries the IB code, and China Southern places its code on Iberia's Spanish domestic points and some Latin American points.

For Chinese shippers the core capability is the Madrid gateway. Cargo can reach Madrid on a nonstop flight by a Chinese carrier or via a European hub, then connect to the network into the main Latin American markets, giving a workable China to Latin America channel, while also covering distribution across Spain and major European cities.

China contact

No publicly listed office in China. Iberia Cargo has not established a public cargo sales office or direct sales office in China; shippers needing space should contact its local agent in China or ask Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited to coordinate, website https://goodhope86.com.

Routine contact runs through Iberia's official channels; the website is iberia.com, and cargo enquiries, booking and tracking are handled in the Cargo section. Specific cargo contacts follow the carrier's latest published cargo channel, and office addresses and contact details may change with operations.

Shippers can ask Goodhope Freight to request space, rates and flights from the carrier or its accredited cargo agent. Because capacity is belly-based and follows the passenger schedule, book early and allow handling time.

Aircraft types and fleet

Iberia Cargo does not operate a freighter fleet; capacity comes from the belly holds of the passenger fleet. The aircraft carrying cargo are mainly Airbus types: widebodies on transatlantic and long-haul routes, narrowbodies within Europe and on Spanish domestic sectors.

The Airbus A350-900 is the new-generation long-haul widebody, with a composite fuselage and higher fuel efficiency for long sectors. Its belly holds take general cargo, temperature-controlled shipments and high-value goods, and it forms the main long-haul capacity. The Airbus A330-300 and A330-200 are medium and long-haul widebodies used on transatlantic and some long-haul routes, with larger belly volume for volume shipments. The Airbus A321XLR and A321 family serve medium-haul and intra-European routes, and the A321XLR can extend medium-haul sectors. The Airbus A320 and A320neo family cover intra-European and Spanish domestic sectors, with belly space used for regional consolidation and connections.

In operational terms, belly capacity follows the passenger schedule: frequencies are steady but payload per flight depends on passenger and baggage loads. Cargo is loaded as loose freight or in containers and pallets, and piece dimensions are limited by the belly door, so oversized or heavy pieces need loading conditions confirmed in advance. Temperature-controlled cargo needs compliant insulated packaging and refrigerant and must be declared under dangerous goods rules.

Airport services and schedules in China

Airport services in China

No public information. Iberia does not currently operate scheduled nonstop flights from airports in China and has no cargo counter or direct sales office of its own at Chinese gateways. Cargo originating in China can move in two ways: on a nonstop China to Madrid flight by a Chinese carrier for the main leg, connecting to the Iberia network on arrival in Madrid; or from a Chinese gateway via a European hub to Madrid, then onto the network. The China Southern Guangzhou to Madrid route carries the IB code as a passenger codeshare, and cargo space is subject to confirmation by the carrier and the operating carrier on the day of booking.

On the China side, shipments start from major gateways including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu and Zhengzhou. Cargo is export cleared and screened in China, loaded, and on arrival in Madrid handled as international transit or cleared directly. One air waybill covers the whole journey, with no second export declaration in China.

Route and schedule overview from Madrid

The schedule overview below is compiled from published route data; the carrier's confirmation on the day of booking applies.

Times are local. Actual schedules vary with the season and are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.

On connection, cargo arriving in Madrid is re-manifested, screened and repalletised by the ground agent and connected to Latin American or European points. Transfer windows at Madrid between transatlantic and intra-European flights are short, which suits time-sensitive cargo; actual connection time depends on the day's schedule. If schedules or capacity change, the forwarder notifies the shipper and adjusts the plan.

Cargo connections from China to Latin America and Europe

From China, cargo reaches Madrid on a nonstop flight by a Chinese carrier or via a European hub and then connects to the Iberia network. It can reach markets in Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Guatemala and Cuba, cover Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, the UK and Germany through the European network, and serve selected points in Africa and the Middle East.

Major Chinese gateways including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu and Zhengzhou have direct and connecting flights to Madrid or to European hubs, so a shipment can move on a single air waybill. Cargo is handled under international transit procedures at the hub and does not have to be declared again inside China. Rates accumulate by sector and the forwarder calculates the total.

On cargo types, the network suits electronic components, machinery and parts, auto parts, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, apparel and textiles, perishables and cold-chain products, high-value goods and e-commerce parcels. Charging follows IATA rules and is billed on the greater of gross weight and volumetric weight, with volumetric weight calculated as length times width times height divided by 6000. For low-density cargo, optimising the packing in advance keeps the chargeable weight down. Cargo that is heavy per piece or out of gauge needs belly loading conditions and ground equipment confirmed in advance.

For smaller volumes or cargo spread across several destinations, consolidation works well: the forwarder consolidates at the origin gateway and books once. For a single large consignment or project cargo with a fixed transit requirement, pallet or capacity block bookings can be requested. Transit from China via Madrid to Latin America depends on the gateway, the connection and the season; the forwarder states the expected transit time and capacity plan at quotation stage.

Freight advantages from China

Seen from the shipping side in China, the advantages of Iberia Cargo are as follows.

First, Madrid is the gateway to Latin America. Latin American points cover Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Guatemala and Cuba, so Chinese cargo arriving in Madrid connects to a dense transatlantic network, cutting the time and damage risk of multiple connections.

Second, two-way coverage of Europe and Latin America. Madrid combines a high-frequency intra-European network with transatlantic trunk routes, so Chinese exports can be deconsolidated at one hub for both European and Latin American destinations.

Third, steady belly schedules. Belly capacity attaches to scheduled passenger flights with regular frequencies, which suits long-term customers who need a fixed shipping rhythm for production and inventory planning.

Fourth, language and time-zone alignment with Spanish-speaking markets. Spanish-language documents and local agent networks reduce friction in trade and clearance with Latin America, which helps Chinese exporters entering the region for the first time.

Fifth, hub ground handling. The cargo terminal at Madrid-Barajas handles transit, clearance and deconsolidation, and transfer windows between transatlantic and intra-European flights are short, which suits time-sensitive cargo.

Overall the carrier suits Chinese shippers of these kinds: manufacturers and traders exporting machinery, consumer goods and e-commerce cargo to Latin America; companies with distribution centers in Spain and Portugal; and cross-border customers needing two-way distribution in Europe and Latin America. Booking through one forwarder secures rate, space, transit time and ground handling together.

For destinations outside its network, final delivery can be completed by European truck flights or by local trucking in Latin America, forming an air-road combination. Road links between the Iberian Peninsula and Western Europe are mature and balance transit time against cost, which suits larger volumes with looser deadlines.

Booking path from China

The booking process for Chinese shippers using Iberia Cargo runs as follows.

First, give the forwarder the cargo details: commodity, pieces, gross weight, volume, airport of departure and destination airport. Second, the forwarder assesses routing and capacity, decides between a nonstop China to Madrid flight on a Chinese carrier and a routing via a European hub, and confirms whether the destination point is on the network. Third, book through the carrier's cargo channel or an accredited cargo agent and issue the air waybill, prefix 075. Fourth, cargo departs a Chinese gateway and is transited or cleared on arrival in Madrid. Fifth, cargo clears and is collected at the destination airport, or moved by truck for last-mile delivery.

A freight forwarder manages the air waybill, tracking and exception handling throughout. Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited can handle all of these steps and provides a single point of contact from quotation and booking through to delivery.

Documents to prepare before booking include the commercial invoice, packing list, declaration data and any import documents the destination requires; temperature-controlled cargo, dangerous goods or live animals also need the relevant certificates and permits. Rates normally consist of base freight, fuel surcharge and security fee, with transit handling charged separately for connecting cargo and road haulage charged separately for final truck delivery. The forwarder lists all charges once, at quotation stage. Once the booking is confirmed, the forwarder issues the air waybill and passes on the booking details, and the shipper can track the whole journey with the reference number.

Because capacity is mostly belly hold, space tightens around peak season and public holidays, so book early and allow handling time. Space to Latin America is especially tight at year-end and around local holidays; the forwarder sets out the booking window in the quotation.

Special services and additional information

Iberia Cargo is built on belly capacity from the passenger network and carries general cargo, perishables, temperature-controlled and pharmaceutical shipments, dangerous goods, live animals and valuables. Specific acceptance conditions, packaging and document requirements are confirmed with the carrier on the day of booking. Ground handling at the Madrid hub covers transit, palletising, warehousing and short transfers.

On codeshare and interlining, in December 2025 the airline formed a codeshare with China Southern Airlines: China Southern's Guangzhou to Madrid route, three times weekly, carries the IB code, and China Southern's code sits on Iberia's Spanish domestic points and some Latin American points. Shippers using the Guangzhou gateway can weigh this codeshare route when planning; cargo space is subject to confirmation by the carrier and the operating carrier on the day of booking.

On cargo types, electronic components, machinery and parts, auto parts, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, apparel and textiles, perishables and cold-chain products, high-value goods and e-commerce parcels are the common categories. Imports into Latin America are mainly industrial goods, consumer goods and e-commerce cargo, while exports are mainly perishables, cut flowers and high-value agricultural produce; this two-way flow supports use of return capacity.

On ground handling, the Madrid hub consolidates, deconsolidates and transfers cargo, which is re-manifested and loaded under international transit procedures. Piece dimensions are limited by the belly hold door, so oversize or overweight pieces need loading conditions and ground equipment confirmed in advance to avoid being unloadable on arrival.

On multimodal options, cargo with a relaxed deadline or a destination far from the airport can fly to Madrid and continue by truck flight, balancing transit time and cost; sea freight to a European base port and onward inland transport is the usual choice for bulk cargo. We can quote air and sea-air options side by side against the cargo parameters so shippers can weigh transit time against cost.

On service commitments, the freight forwarder updates the shipper at four points: booking, handover, transit and arrival. If a flight is rescheduled or capacity changes, an alternative is offered at once. Rates and transit times are stated in full at quotation, and no charge is added beyond surcharges published by the carrier, so costs stay transparent throughout.

Data sources: the content is compiled from airline websites, group publications and public route data. Office addresses, telephone numbers, fleet composition and route arrangements may change with operations; actual details are subject to confirmation by the carrier on the day of booking.

Common freight questions