LATAM Airlines Group plans to launch a significant growth plan for its freighter branch, improving cargo connectivity between Europe and the Americas with more frequencies and new routes. Let’s take a look at the company’s plan.

The plan

The South American company LATAM is looking at increasing its cargo capabilities, doubling down on one of the industry’s segments that recovered faster from the COVID-19 pandemic.

This month, LATAM unveiled a plan to reinforce cargo connectivity between Europe and the Americas. The objective is to offer customers more and better solutions.

This plan will be implemented gradually during the second half of this year by adding more frequencies and a more diversified transatlantic network between Europe and certain key US cities, and greater connectivity to Central and South America via New York JFK Airport (JFK)and Miami International Airport (MIA).

LATAM Cargo expects to double its capacity between both regions, increasing their weekly frequencies by 85% from seven to 13. That would be a 160% growth compared to pre-pandemic levels.

The company’s cargo division was the first to fully bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic. It was followed swiftly by LATAM Colombia’s passenger operation.

In the first quarter of 2021, LATAM cargo operations maintained a solid performance, with revenues amounting to US$430.7 million, representing a 63.5% increase compared to the same period in 2019.

A LATAM Cargo aircraft
LATAM is looking to increase its cargo capabilities between Europe and the Americas.

Routes and aircraft

To execute this plan, LATAM has been increasing its cargo capabilities by boosting its fleet. This year, LATAM has received the second and third Boeing 767-300BCF cargo planes contemplated in the company’s cargo fleet growth plan announced in 2021. The airline expects to receive a fourth unit this year.

By 2023, the company plans to have a cargo fleet composed of up to 21 freighters (in 2022’s first quarter, the airline had 13 Boeing 767 cargo planes).

In addition, LATAM will open new routes between Europe and the United States that will be served by freighter aircraft operated by LATAM Cargo Colombia.

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The airline will open the following routes:

  1. Amsterdam (AMS)-New York (JFK)/Miami (MIA)-Bogota (BOG)
  2. Amsterdam-New York/Miami-Viracopos-Bogota
  3. Amsterdam-Madrid-New York/Miami-Bogota.

All of these routes will have two weekly frequencies.

A LATAM Boeing 767-300.
LATAM is increasing its cargo capabilities by converting passenger Boeing 767-300 jetliners into freighters. Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying.

The importance of Miami and New York

New York and Miami are key to boosting LATAM’s cargo capabilities across the Americas. From both cities, the company’s customers may access the connectivity offered by LATAM Group’s passenger network. LATAM has three daily flights from JFK to São Paulo, Lima, and Santiago de Chile. From Miami, LATAM has 46 weekly flights to the Latin American region serving Bogotá, Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Lima, Punta Cana, and Santiago de Chile.

Andres Bianchi, CEO of LATAM Cargo said,

“The growth of our cargo network, coupled with the improvements to our systems through CROAMIS and the new distribution channels that make capacity available, reflect the commitment of LATAM and its cargo subsidiaries to offer more and better alternatives to our customers and to provide the solution of excellence our customers require to connect the world to South America.”

What do you think about LATAM Cargo’s plans? Let us know in the comments below.