The Latin American carrier has received its 17th Boeing 767 converted freighter (BCF). The modification of the former passenger jetliner was done in Singapore, and allows for a 6% capacity increase offered the market. With the arrival of the new aircraft, LATAM Cargo is exactly on track to operating a unified freighter fleet of 20 B767s in 2024.
Once this is achieved, the carrier will have doubled its pre-pandemic capacity offering. This reaffirms its position as one of the leading cargo airlines groups in the Latin American region. “We welcome this new freighter during another challenging period for the air freight industry,” says Andrés Bianchi, CEO of the LATAM Cargo Group. ”When we designed our capacity plan in 2019, we had these periods in mind.” The executive pointed out that it was the management’s vision to build a freighter fleet that could sustain high levels of service while continuing to add value to the shareholders not only in booming times but also in downturns like the current one.
Suitable for good and lean times
“Moreover, we can do so better, as we continue capitalizing on the productivity gains of recent years. As a consequence, we are confident this new addition will further contribute to
strengthening our value proposition and expanding our network,” the executive outlined.
The new aircraft will increase the capacity currently offered from Europe, generating greater connectivity to Central and South America, via New York and Miami, with two new weekly frequencies
that were communicated at the end of 2022. It will also provide support on new routes, such as the one recently announced: Quito (Ecuador) - Los Angeles (United States) - Houston (United States)
- Manaus (Brazil) - Viracopos, Sao Paulo (Brazil).
Three units, one target: success
In its release, LATAM Cargo points out that the new aircraft is also part of the cargo group's efforts to have a rejuvenated fleet. At 11 years of age, it represents one of the youngest converted
cargo aircraft in the LATAM Group, compared to the 17 years average of the rest of the fleet operated by the South American carrier.
The LATAM Group encompasses three different freight units: LATAM Cargo Chile, LATAM Cargo Colombia, and LATAM Cargo Brazil. These cargo subsidiaries can utilize the lower deck capacities of
LATAM’s passenger aircraft, and operate within the LATAM group network as well as on exclusive international routes for cargo transportation.
Heiner Siegmund
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