Colombia and the United States agreed to an expansion of the agreed traffic rights, including the so-called seventh freedom of the air rights, so that from now on cargo airlines of both countries will be able to transport cargo to and from third states on flights in which the airline’s country of origin is not the starting point or an intermediate stop.
For example, a company with a permit to operate in Colombia has an aircraft positioned in Miami and schedules a flight to Guatemala, the right granted allows that aircraft to fly to that third country transporting cargo. The same can be done by the United States, if it has an aircraft located in Colombia and requires a flight, for example, to Brazil to transport goods.
Aerocivil emphasized that this will allow the companies designated by both countries to expand their markets and consolidate their international presence, in addition to benefiting trade and the economy with more competitive rates.
Colombia, the main cargo market in South America
Colombia has one of the most dynamic cargo markets in the region with more than 30 companies operating in the country.
«For Colombia, the modernization of the Air Transport Agreement with the United States has great relevance considering that during the first half of 2022, 249,552 tons were mobilized between the two countries, representing a growth of 11.4% compared to the same period last year when 224,065 tons were mobilized,» said Ángela María Orozco, Colombia’s Minister of Transportation.
«Similarly, 34,167 tons were transported during the month of June, representing a growth of 3.8% compared to June 2021 when 32,924 tons were transported,» she added.
U.S. airlines operating in Colombia include ABX Air (Miami-Bogotá), Atlas Air (Miami-Bogotá); DHL (Miami-Bogotá), FedEX Express (Miami-Bogotá and Medellín/Cordova) and UPS Airlines (Miami-Bogotá).
Other companies also operate between the United States and Colombia, such as Qatar Airways, Martinair, Cargojet, Avianca Cargo, Ethiopian Airlines Cargo, Turkish Airlines Cargo, LATAM Airlines Cargo and Aercaribe.
Francisco Ospina Ramírez, General Director (E) of the Civil Aeronautics indicated that «the market between Colombia and the United States is characterized by a strong concentration in the Bogotá – Miami – Bogotá and Medellín – Miami – Medellín routes, which account for 95.7% of the transport». Likewise, Miami is consolidated as the main destination for Colombian cargo.
«Likewise, the operation is characterized by the presence of an important number of players, thanks to the liberalization policy implemented by the National Government, which is reflected in a better way in the international transportation of cargo, which guarantees a diverse offer of services for users and which will be favored with the signing of the Protocol of Amendment to the Agreement,» concluded Ospina Ramirez.
