Latin America hosts all freighter types

Latin American freighter operators appear committed to keeping older-generation freighters in service as newer conversion programs gain momentum in the region. Asia Pacific, Europe and North America have led the move to next-generation freighters. Cargo Facts recorded 160 freighter aircraft in service in Latin America as of May 1. These freighters were spread across twenty-seven operators and included widebodies, narrowbodies and regional aircraft. For this analysis, the regional category only includes CRJs, ATRs and Saab 340s. Also, LATAM Cargo’s divisions in Chile, Colombia and Brazil have been treated as a single Chile-based entity. [caption id="attachment_56868290" align="alignnone" width="1600"] Braspress is leasing two 737-400Fs from World Star Aviation. (Courtesy/Viracopos International Airport)[/caption] Freighter operators in Latin America as of May 1

Source: Cargo Facts Latin America remains a viable option for aging freighters that have exceeded their depreciable value but have plenty of service life left. Thirteen DC-9Fs, eight 727-200Fs and one 737-200F — with an average age of at least forty years — continue to provide lift capacity in the region, based on Cargo Facts research. Narrowbody freighters led all types of aircraft in service with ninety-nine, accounting for more than half of the total fleet based in Latin America. [caption id="attachment_56868292" align="aligncenter" width="1495"] LATAM is one of the largest operators of 767 freighters. (Courtesy/LATAM Cargo)[/caption] Medium-widebody freighters were the primary aircraft moving large payloads in and out of Latin America but represented the lowest number of units operating in the region. Of the thirty-eight widebody freighters domiciled in Latin America, twenty-seven were 767s, nine were A330s, one was an A300 and one was an MD-10. Newer and younger Although most Latin American carriers operate older-generation aircraft, newer conversion programs and younger variants of converted freighters have entered fleets in the region. Brazil-based startup Levu Air Cargo will likely become the first carrier in the country to operate the A321-200PCF as well as the first in Latin America to have an A321 freighter after agreeing to sublease the aircraft from Latvia-based SmartLynx. The 1998-vintage unit 775 (ex-Ural Airlines) will enter service with Levu after the carrier receives approval from Brazil’s civil aviation authority, it recently told Cargo Facts . Levu might also add two A330Fs to become Brazil’s first A330 freighter operator. Fellow Brazilian operators GOL and Modern Logistics are among the first operators in Latin America to fly 737-800 freighters. Modern took delivery of its second 737-800BCF (33550, ex-Ryanair) in February and is flying both in Brazil, the carrier told Cargo Facts . GOL operates six 737-800BCFs on an ACMI basis for Latin American e-commerce giant Mercado Libre, with the first aircraft arriving in August 2022 and the sixth in October 2023. Miami-based GlobalX had planned to set up a Colombia-based subsidiary to operate A321Fs . However, in March the airline decided to pause investments in long-term projects , including certification of GlobalX Colombia. NextGen operators Aerolineas Argentinas was the first operator to bring an AEI-converted 737-800SF to the region in February 2023 after the carrier revealed plans to re-enter the freighter market with two of the type. It took delivery of its second unit in May 2023, when the 2001-vintage unit 30571 joined its sistership (30570). [caption id="attachment_56868291" align="aligncenter" width="1534"] Copa started flying its 737-800BCF in 2022. (Courtesy/Copa Airlines)[/caption] The first next-generation freighter to begin operations in the region joined Panama-based Copa Airlines in 2022 when the carrier took delivery of a 737-800BCF (33709). The 2003-vintage unit was removed from Copa’s passenger fleet in July 2021 before entering conversion with Boeing at the GAMECO facility in Guangzhou (CAN). Brazil-based Sideral Linhas Aereas will soon join the growing number of LATAM carriers operating the 737-800 freighter after taking redelivery of its first 737-800SF in March. Classic yet dependable As some of the Latin American market’s carriers transition to the next generation of freighters, several new entrants to the narrowbody sector have decided to start with the 737 Classic. Dominican Republic-based Sky High and Brazil-based Braspress Air Cargo and Total Express recently began operating Classic narrowbody freighters. 737 Classics were the most plentiful freighter type in Latin America with fifty 737-400Fs and -300Fs in service with thirteen carriers. Mexico’s Aeronaves TSM has been on a shopping spree in the past few years and acquired feedstock 737-400s and converted 737-400Fs. The carrier had thirteen units in service as of May 1, the largest contingent of the type in Latin America. Active 737 Classic freighters in Latin America as of May 1

Source: Cargo Facts Medium widebodies operate in small numbers Medium widebodies make up all of Latin America’s widebody segment, which continues to see growth with newer types, although that growth is not on pace with narrowbodies. [caption id="attachment_56868293" align="aligncenter" width="865"] Mas has leased four A330P2Fs. (Courtesy/Universal Translink Holding)[/caption] Mexico-based AeroUnion is preparing to take delivery of its first A330-300P2F , which will join its 767-200s and A300. It will make AeroUnion the second carrier in the country to fly an A330 freighter after mas. Meanwhile, LATAM and Panama-based DHL Aero Expreso are committed to the 767 platform. LATAM will take redelivery of its final two 767-300BCF conversions this year and intends to operate a fleet of twenty 767 freighters. DHL Aero Expreso retired two 757-200Fs and its remaining 737-400F this year, and is likely moving to an all-widebody fleet. It had five 767-300BCFs as of May 1. As more 737 Classics leave the fleets of operators in North America and Europe, Cargo Facts expects to see at least some find their way to carriers in Latin America for the rest of their operating lives. On the widebody front, however, it is the A330P2F that will likely increase its footprint in the region in the year ahead. Cargo Facts LATAM 2024, the essential event for stakeholders in Latin America, takes place this week at the Hilton Panama. Learn more and register now .

Latin America hosts all freighter types

737 Classics remain preferred option for many operators

People: Appointments in air cargo

Maersk opens air cargo gateway in Miami

Related Posts

Widebody transactions carry momentum into June

From the Cockpit with K2 Aviation’s Karl Ryan

Production freighter activity highlights May FATs

Maersk opens air cargo gateway in Miami

Cargo Facts Free Newsletters

Cargo Facts Connect Podcast

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Retrieve your password