737 Classics to continue to find favor in Latin America

Latin American carriers’ preference for 737 Classic freighters resonated among panelists discussing market developments and trends at Cargo Facts LATAM 2026. One reason carriers in the region prefer the older freighter types is their lower acquisition cost, as most airlines operate with smaller revenue margins, according to speakers at the conference. [caption id="attachment_57295612" align="aligncenter" width="2335"] Dora Alexander of Hamden Aviation speaking at Cargo Facts LATAM 2026. (Photo/Cargo Facts)[/caption] For example, a 737-400 freighter can be acquired for around $5.5 million, compared with an average of around $17 million for just a feedstock 737-800 or A321-200, according to valuations provided by Aviation Asset Management and BK Associates during the event. 737 Classic freighters represented about 42% of the Latin American fleet as of Jan. 31, based on a Cargo Facts analysis. These older Boeing narrowbody freighters accounted for sixty of the 105 narrowbody types based in Latin America and were operated by nine carriers. Operators that brought 737 Classics into service in 2025 include Panama-based UniWorld Air Cargo , Colombia-based AerCaribe and Mexico-based Aeronaves TSM. 737 Classic demand driven by cost Latin America will transition more slowly to next-generation freighters because many operators have smaller margins and will keep operating 737 Classics until reliability and maintenance costs force them to change, Tadashi Mabee, BCF product marketing director at Boeing, said at the event. The region is home to nearly 30% of the world’s 737 Classic freighter fleet, so “if a Classic can work for them, they’re going to stick with a Classic,” Mabee said. Demand for 737 Classics could extend the type’s operational life in Latin America well into the next decade. “There is still a place for the Classics in Latin America for the next three to five years,” Hamden Aviation Chief Marketing Officer Dora Alexander said at the event. Another reason why 737 Classic freighters “are not going away like we expected” is the divergence between declining airframe values and rising engine values, Mark Halsor, president of Aviation Asset Management, said. The A321 freighter offers more volume but at a higher conversion cost and with limited feedstock, while the 737-800 is “more widely accepted at the moment,” though affordability remains a challenge for Latin American carriers, Pooja Gardemal, managing director of BK Associates, said. Cargo Facts will present four invaluable events for airfreight professionals in 2026, the next of which is <a style="color: #ff0000;" href="https://cargofactsevents.com/asia/?utm_campaign=22235567-CF%20Asia%202026&utm_source=Editorial&utm_medium=article%20event%20footer&utm_term=CF%20website&utm_content=Learn%20More&utm_source=Weekly+Update+-+Cargo+Facts&utm_campaign=fbe548904b-CF+Update_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_621baa6827-fbe548904b-40083601&mc_cid=fbe548904b&mc_eid=adbe8bb0b4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cargo Facts Asia on March 23-25. To see the agendas and register for the events, visit CargoFactsEvents.com .

737 Classics to continue to find favor in Latin America

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