LATAM Cargo Group has announced the strengthening of its network between Europe and South America with the increase of frequencies on its Boeing B767-300F cargo aircraft.
Starting 1 October, LATAM Cargo will add two weekly flights, enhancing connectivity between both markets and increasing the total frequencies from 10 to 12, thus leading the capacity offered between the continents, the company said.
This expansion totals a weekly offer of more than 600 tonnes on cargo planes between Europe and South America.
From Europe, it will complement the 1,100 tonnes available on LATAM Group’s passenger planes.
In total, LATAM will offer more than 1,700 tonnes distributed among eight points in South America and 10 in Europe.
Matías Cortina, vice president of commercial for Europe at LATAM Cargo Group, said: “As the leading cargo operator in South America, our focus is on providing our customers with increased and improved connectivity.
“With this new growth, we will offer 140 per cent more capacity to and from Europe and double the cargo destinations in South America compared to 2019. This significant increase in capacity also applies to our offerings for Ecuadorian flowers.”
The operation originating from Europe is planned tentatively from Brussels with two new weekly frequencies, enabling the company to reinforce capacity to destinations such as Viracopos and Santiago, mainly connecting general cargo and pharmaceutical products.
From South America, these two additional frequencies will provide more capacity to perishable cargo customers from countries such as Peru, Chile, Ecuador and Colombia, among others, connecting them with Europe.
Claudio Torres, commercial senior vice president for South America at LATAM Cargo Group, added: “The strengthening of our cargo network, complemented by an extensive belly network, has allowed LATAM to significantly expand capacity to Europe.
“Currently, we operate 10 weekly cargo frequencies to Europe, and from October, we will increase to 12 frequencies.
“This capacity increase will not only expand our points of origin in South America but also offer our perishable cargo customers more options and greater flexibility in transporting their products.”
Since 2019, LATAM has steadily strengthened its cargo operations between Europe and South America. In 2020, it increased its weekly frequencies from five to seven, and in 2023, from seven to 10.
Three new destinations were also added last year: Curitiba, Florianópolis and Montevideo, in addition to the three previous destinations: São Paulo, Buenos Aires and Santiago de Chile.
In 2023, the LATAM Group experienced remarkable growth in its cargo operations to Europe, highlighting the expansion from Santiago and Quito, the company said.