LATAM Cargo is extending its freighter network in Europe with flights to Brussels and Madrid, doubling the number of European cargo flights from two to four cities.
The airline group says the decision came in response to growing demand and the need to provide alternatives to rising congestion levels at European airports.
Brussels was chosen to absorb the high traffic of pharmaceutical products, distinguished by LATAM Cargo undergoing the IATA CEIV Pharma certification and the Belgian airport was the first in the world where stakeholders of the cargo community received the certificate in a joint approach.
The airline plans to carry other products in addition to pharmaceutical on the twice-weekly flights to the region.
Madrid was chosen due to an increase in the transportation of traditional industrial products, as well as other services like parcel delivery, e-commerce and textiles.
The weekly flight connecting Madrid with Sao Paulo in Brazil and Santiago in Chile adds capacity to LATAM’s belly network across Europe.
LATAM Cargo senior commercial director for Europe, Guido Henke says: “Our strategy in Europe seeks to strengthen our network and position us as the leader in air freight service to South America. We are very optimistic about our new direct freight routes from Brussels and Madrid. And our customers’ enthusiastic response has led us to consider the possibility of increasing our current schedule.”
LATAM Cargo international commercial director for South America, Claudio Torres says: “By expanding our network we are in a position to offer more and better alternatives to our customers. This is particularly important for the South American market, where we export fresh, temperature-sensitive products that require shorter transportation periods.”
