LATAM Cargo adds an additional aircraft to its fleet and adds flights to Houston

LATAM Cargo expands its aircraft fleet with the addition of an additional Boeing 767-300BFC. This aircraft was converted from passenger to freighter-only use and its arrival will strengthen the company’s global cargo network.

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The new aircraft, registered CC-BDB, will be operated by LATAM Cargo Chile and was initially delivered to LAN Chile in October 2011 and converted to freighter use in March of this year.

LATAM Cargo now has a fleet of 17 Boeing 767 freighters distributed across its subsidiaries in Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Ecuador. The company offers exclusive cargo flights in Latin America, the Caribbean, the United States and Europe.

In the cargo market, the company obtained an occupancy factor of 52.8% in February 2023, a decrease of 8.7 percentage points compared to the same period last year.

Expansion in the United States

On March 9, LATAM Cargo expanded its global network with a new service to Houston – Intercontinental (IAH), the second largest airport in Texas. The flight operates twice weekly (Tuesdays and Thursdays) on Boeing 767 freighters and follows the Quito (UIO) – Los Angeles (LAX) – George Bush Airport (IAH) – Manaus (MAO) – São Paulo/Viracopos (VCP) route.

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According to the Greater Houston Partnership, Brazil is Houston’s third largest trading partner and the predominant South American nation for direct investment and trade with Texas. Latam Cargo is one of the largest cargo operators in Latin America, the new service will allow the Houston region to export up to 53 metric tons of goods per flight to Brazil.

«This new air cargo service is a win for Houston, an important step in growing a successful cargo network throughout Latin America,» said Jim Szczesniak, chief operating officer of Houston Airports.

Currently, 41 Houston companies operate 1,133 branches in Brazil, and the most in-demand products between the two destinations include industrial machinery, medical supplies and aircraft parts.

Trade between Houston and Brazil totaled 7,670 metric tons of air cargo in 2022. Annual freight traffic traded between the Texan city and the South American nation reached $893 million in 2022, representing a 90% increase compared to 2021.

«At LATAM Cargo we are constantly reviewing our cargo itinerary in search of new opportunities that can benefit our customers. In this case, the addition of this route is part of an initiative that will allow us to offer more capacity and provide more options to be present in the most relevant markets,» says Gudny Genskowsky, Network Director of LATAM Cargo.

See also: LATAM does not rule out operating domestic flights in Mexico or returning to Argentina.