LATAM Group to integrate cargo affiliates under one brand

Prior to the second half of this year, LATAM Group airlines will begin the process of integrating cargo affiliates LAN Cargo, TAM Cargo, LAN Cargo Colombia and MAS Air into one entity. When complete, the carrier will become the largest cargo airline in Latin America, operating as LATAM Cargo.  

LATAM Cargo plans to make use of each individual affiliate’s best practices, for both services and products. Cargo executive vice president Cristian Ureta said, “This change also involves an evolution internally in relation to how we do things, how we deal with issues and how we come up with solutions”

Growing demand for the region’s perishables is partially responsible for a recent turnaround in air cargo demand out of Latin America. Following a few years of contraction and stagnation, Latin American cargo traffic, measured in freight tonne kilometers, jumped by 2.7 percent, y-o-y, in February, likely led by increased demand for the region’s specialty exports, which include salmon, flowers, berries and asparagus.

When combined, LATAM Cargo will serve 140 destinations in 29 countries, using both passenger aircraft and dedicated freighters.  The optimization of belly and maindeck cargo capacity contribute to wider efficiency and profitability objectives, LATAM said.