Air Europa Cargo (Spain)

Airline overview

Air Europa Lineas Aereas is one of Spain's main airlines, founded in 1986, with its registered office in Lluchmayor, Mallorca, and a hub at Madrid Barajas Airport. Its IATA two-letter code is UX, ICAO three-letter code AEA, radio callsign EUROPA, and air waybill prefix 996. The official website is aireuropa.com, with cargo under the Cargo section.

On network structure, public material describes 15 domestic points in Spain and 40 international routes covering Europe, North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, with Madrid Barajas handling transit and consolidation. Latin American points include Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires, Lima, Bogota, Mexico City, Havana and Punta Cana, and North American points include Miami and New York.

Cargo capacity comes mainly from the belly holds of the passenger fleet, with perishables to Latin America a priority segment. Digital distribution has moved quickly: the carrier joined CargoAi in 2023, put capacity on cargo.one in 2024 and on WebCargo by Freightos in April 2025, starting with Spanish export points such as Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao and Valencia and then extending to Europe, the Americas and Asia-Pacific; it also uses the SkyPallet ULD optimisation tool to raise load factors. Public material names Jordi Pique as cargo general manager.

On capacity type, there is no public indication of scheduled freighter service; cargo moves in the belly holds of the Boeing 787 and Boeing 737 fleets. Belly capacity follows the passenger schedule, so frequency is stable, but the payload per flight depends on passenger and baggage loads.

For Chinese shippers the core capability is Madrid as a transit point plus the Latin American feeder network. Cargo can reach Madrid on a Chinese carrier's nonstop flight or through a European hub and then connect into the main Latin American markets, giving a workable China to Latin America channel, while also covering Spanish cities and European points for final distribution.

China contact

No publicly listed office in China. Air Europa Cargo has no publicly announced cargo sales office or own sales team in China; shippers who need to book should contact its local agent in China or ask Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited to coordinate, website https://goodhope86.com.

Routine contact runs through Air Europa's official channels; the official website is aireuropa.com, where cargo enquiries, bookings and tracking are handled in the Cargo section. The registered office is in Lluchmayor, Mallorca, Spain. Specific cargo contacts follow the airline's latest published cargo channel, and office addresses and numbers may change with operations.

Chinese shippers needing space, rates and schedules can ask us to obtain a quote from the carrier or its accredited cargo agents. On digital booking, the capacity is available on several cargo booking platforms, so an accredited forwarder can quote and book online efficiently.

Aircraft types and fleet

Air Europa Cargo does not operate a separate freighter fleet; capacity comes from the belly holds of the passenger fleet, mainly Boeing 787 and Boeing 737 aircraft.

The Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners are the long-haul mainstay, used on transatlantic and Latin American trunk routes; the composite fuselage and high fuel efficiency suit long sectors. Their belly holds take general cargo, perishables, temperature-controlled and high-value freight, and they are the main capacity toward Latin America. The Boeing 737-800 covers intra-European, Spanish domestic and North African sectors, with belly space used for regional consolidation and connections at high frequency, suited to short and medium-haul cargo.

In operational terms, belly capacity follows the passenger schedule, so frequency is stable but the payload per flight depends on passenger and baggage loads. Cargo is normally loaded as loose pieces or on pallets and containers, with piece dimensions limited by the belly door, so long or heavy items need loading conditions confirmed in advance. Perishables and temperature-controlled cargo need approved insulated packaging and refrigerants, and refrigerants such as dry ice must be declared under dangerous goods rules.

Airport services and schedules in China

Airport services in China

No public information. Air Europa does not operate scheduled flights nonstop from airports in China and has no own cargo counter or sales office at Chinese gateways. The usual routing for China-origin cargo is a Chinese carrier's nonstop China to Madrid flight for the main leg, or a routing from a Chinese gateway via a European hub into Madrid, connecting there to the network. In practice forwarders combine the China to Madrid mainline space with the Latin American sectors to produce a single through movement.

On the China side, shipments leave from main gateways such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu and Zhengzhou. Cargo is export cleared and screened in China, then handled in Madrid either as international transit or under direct import clearance, with no second 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 connections, after arrival in Madrid the ground handler completes document exchange, screening and repalletising before the cargo moves to a Latin American or European point. The connecting window between transatlantic and intra-European flights depends on that day's schedule. If schedules or capacity change, the forwarder notifies the shipper in advance and adjusts the plan.

Cargo connections from China to Latin America and Europe

From China, cargo reaches Madrid on a Chinese carrier's nonstop flight or via a European hub; connecting to the Air Europa network gives access to Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Colombia, Mexico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and other Latin American and Caribbean markets, and through its European network to Spanish cities, Portugal, France, Italy, the United Kingdom and Germany, plus Miami and New York in North America.

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

From a China shipper's point of view, the advantages of Air Europa Cargo are concentrated in the following areas.

First, the transit position of Madrid. Its Latin American points cover Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Colombia, Mexico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic, so cargo reaching Madrid can connect to the transatlantic network, cutting the time and damage risk of multiple connections.

Second, experience with perishables. Perishables to Latin America are a priority segment, and temperature- and time-sensitive cargo can follow established procedures; acceptance conditions are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.

Third, well-developed digital booking. Capacity is on CargoAi, cargo.one and WebCargo by Freightos, so accredited forwarders can check space and rates and book online, with fast response on quotes and confirmations.

Fourth, long-haul widebody capacity. Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft fly the transatlantic trunk routes, and their belly volume and range suit Latin American sectors, for bulk and high-value cargo alike.

Fifth, loading efficiency from ULD optimisation. The SkyPallet tool is used to raise belly and ULD utilisation, which helps space use on dense cargo.

Overall the airline suits Chinese shippers such as manufacturers and traders exporting machinery, consumer goods and e-commerce cargo to Latin America, companies with a distribution center in Spain, and cross-border clients needing two-way distribution between Europe and Latin America. Booking through a 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 a Chinese shipper using Air Europa Cargo is as follows.

Step one, give the forwarder the cargo details: commodity, pieces, gross weight, volume, origin gateway and destination airport. Step two, the forwarder assesses routing and capacity and settles whether the cargo flies nonstop to Madrid on a Chinese carrier or connects through a European hub, and confirms that the destination is on the network. Step three, book through its cargo channel, an accredited forwarder or a connected digital booking platform and issue the air waybill with prefix 996. Step four, the cargo departs the Chinese gateway and is transited or cleared on arrival in Madrid. Step five, clearance and collection at the destination airport, or truck delivery for the final leg.

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 are the commercial invoice, packing list, declaration data and any import documents the destination requires; perishables, temperature-controlled cargo, dangerous goods or live animals also need the relevant certificates and permits. Rates normally comprise the base freight, fuel surcharge and screening fee, with transit handling charged separately for connecting cargo and road haulage for final truck delivery; the forwarder sets out all charges at the quotation stage. After booking confirmation the forwarder issues the waybill and passes on the booking details, and the shipper can track the whole movement by waybill 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

Air Europa Cargo builds on passenger belly capacity and carries general cargo, perishables, temperature-controlled goods, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, live animals, valuables and outsized freight; acceptance, packing and document requirements are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking. Perishables to Latin America are a priority segment, and transit and ground support on those sectors are organized accordingly.

On digital channels, capacity has been available on CargoAi, cargo.one and WebCargo by Freightos since 2023. The WebCargo channel launched in April 2025 opened Spanish export points such as Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao and Valencia first, then extended to Europe, the Americas and Asia-Pacific, covering perishable capacity toward Latin America. Accredited forwarders can search, quote, book and track on these platforms.

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.

Sources: The material is compiled from the airline's official website, public route data and published industry information. Office addresses, telephone numbers, fleet composition and route arrangements may change with operations; actual details are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.

Common freight questions