LATAM Cargo Group has announced the expansion of its Miami-São José dos Campos cargo route, increasing from two to three weekly flights.
From now, the operation will run on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. With this expansion, the route’s capacity will grow by 50 per cent, the airline said, reaching a total of more than 150 tonnes of cargo transported weekly between the US and the São Paulo interior.
Otávio Meneguette, commercial director of LATAM Cargo Brazil, said: “We are very pleased with this announcement, which reinforces our commitment to our customers in Brazil.
“This international route is crucial for São José dos Campos and the São Paulo interior, as it facilitates the import of supplies and electronic equipment for the Vale do Paraíba industrial chain.”
The route, operated by Boeing B767-300F freighters with a capacity of over 50 tonnes per flight, completed its first year in June.
It facilitates the import of general cargo and electronic products to the Vale do Paraíba region, connecting with the Miami hub, which links cargo from the US and Europe.
São José dos Campos Airport stands out for its strategic location in the heart of the Vale do Paraíba, Brazil’s second-largest industrial hub.
It features the third-longest runway in the state and a modernised cargo terminal, benefitting industries that utilise the route by reducing import costs and providing competitive advantages.
In 2023, LATAM Cargo Group launched international cargo routes including Miami-São José dos Campos, Miami-Brasília, and Amsterdam-Curitiba and increased the frequency of its Miami-Florianópolis route to three weekly flights.
In April, it doubled its capacity in the capital of Pará with the new Guarulhos-Belém-Manaus route and increased freighter flights to Manaus.
It also launched a new route between Europe and Florianópolis, facilitating international cargo transport between Europe and Santa Catarina.
In May, the company inaugurated the domestic Guarulhos-Recife-Manaus route, increasing its capacity in the Pernambuco capital by 62.5 per cent compared to April.
All these operations are conducted with B767-300F aircraft, capable of carrying over 50 tonnes per flight.
Additionally, LATAM Cargo Brazil has introduced a new product portfolio for domestic flights in Brazil, offering four new services and specific care options to enhance the cargo transportation experience within the country.
LATAM Cargo currently operates to 166 destinations in 33 countries, 18 of which are exclusively for cargo.
In Brazil, the company serves 50 destinations and connects the country with 19 destinations abroad.
Globally, LATAM Cargo’s fleet includes 20 freighter aircraft, comprising B767-300F and B767-300BCF models.
For 2024, LATAM’s Brazilian operations are expected to grow by 7 per cent to 9 per cent in available seat kilometres (ASK), which will also reflect an increase in cargo capacity in the lower holds of passenger aircraft operating in the domestic market.