Avianca Cargo announced the addition of up to four A330-300 freighter (P2F) conversions, making it the first airline in South America to use this model.
The A330 P2Fs, which will be phased into the fleet between 2022 and 2024, will join the six Airbus A330-200s (F). This will enable it to increase its capacity by around 70% in key export markets such as Colombia and Ecuador, and in import markets between South America and the United States.
The A330-300 P2F made its Latin American debut with Mexico-based MAS Air.
According to the manufacturer’s specifications, the -300 (P2F) has a load capacity of 68 tons on 27 pallets on the main deck, and up to 11 pallets on the lower deck and/or 32 LDD3.
Fully loaded, the A330-300 P2F has a range of up to 6,780 kilometers.
«We are proud that Avianca Cargo has selected the A330-300P2F. This new generation freighter will provide it with a highly efficient and flexible operation based on the proven and technologically advanced A330 family and will be the right complement to the existing A330-200F fleet, benefiting Avianca Cargo from the commonality advantages of the A330 family,» said Arturo Barreira, president of Airbus Latin America.
See also: Avianca Cargo: Mother’s Day season ended with 26% more cargo carried than in 2021
More destinations, capacity, and sustainability
According to Avianca Cargo, these actions are part of the airline’s strategic plan, through which, with new projects and routes that are under continuous analysis in conjunction with customers, it is committed to continue strengthening direct connectivity between North America and Latin America.
In addition, the company stated that the arrival of the A330 aircraft will allow it to have an increasingly sustainable operation by reducing its carbon footprint.
«We are very pleased to announce the arrival of these aircraft to our cargo fleet, with which we will offer not only greater capacity, but also an increasingly robust and flexible route network focused on the needs of our customers, facilitating trade between Latin America and the entire world. We reaffirm our commitment to continue driving the economies of the region, serving as strategic allies of our customers and industries,» said Gabriel Oliva, CEO of Avianca Cargo.
Currently, Avianca Cargo is the main cargo carrier in Colombia and Ecuador for the international market, with the following destinations:
- Argentina: Buenos Aires/Ezeiza (EZE).
- Brazil: Campinas – Viracopos (VCP), Curitiba and Manaos (MAO).
- Chile: Santiago (SCL).
- Colombia: Barranquilla (BAQ), Bogotá (BOG), Cali (CLO) and Medellín (MDE).
- Ecuador: Quito (UIO).
- El Salvador: San Salvador (SAL).
- United States: Miami (MIA).
- Netherlands: Amsterdam (AMS).
- Panama: Panama City/Tocumen (PTY).
- Paraguay: Asuncion (ASU) and Ciudad del Este (AGT).
- Peru: Lima (LIM).
- Dominican Republic: Santo Domingo/Las Americas (SDQ).
- Uruguay: Montevideo (MVD).
See also: Avianca Cargo requests routes to the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay.
Most of the routes start or end at Miami International Airport (MIA), in the United States, where the company has a large logistics center to handle the flow of a wide variety of goods from South America.
