LATAM goes for even more cargo planes

The group LATAM announcementó It's expansionón of its growth plan for aircraft converted to freighters, under which it hopes to gradually add 10 Boeing 767-300 Boeing Converted Freighters en los prówe went three toños.

With this new increase, total upá a fleet of 21 cargo planes until the end of the 2023. The first will beá received at the end of thisñO.

Initially, The group's freight fleet growth plan includesó four aircraft confirmed with Boeing and four conversion optionsón. Two months after the announcement, LATAM ratificó the acquisitionón of these eight planes and communicatedó you convert itón of two additional Boeing 767-300ERs. With that, the total fleet of cargo operators will remainá composed of up to 21 aircraft at the end of 2023, which implies that the pr groupáctically doubleá its cargo fleet and reduceá the average age of said fleet 17 a 14 años.

“I decided itón to expand the fleet is based on the fact that there are attractive growth opportunities, in the efficiency gains achieved and the flexibility allowed by the Boeing 767F. As a result it will be possibleá grow profitably, even in scenarios similar to those faced before the pandemic. Thanks to that, LATAM cargo subsidiaries continueán responding to the needs of your customers, and supporting the development of the regionón with a better and más extensive connectivity”, declareó Andrewés Bianchi, CEO of LATAM Cargo.

grow from 11 a 21 cargo planes carryá the group's cargo operators to expand and reinforce their presence from, to and between Sudanérica, and consolidate as the main group of cargo operators in the regionón. For now, and after making slight adjustments, is definedó distributionón the ability of the first eight aircraft to increase their offering in the relevant markets of their customers.

“At a general level, connectivity from Sudam is reinforcedérich towards Américh from the North and vice versa. Specíficaly, the connection is strengthenedón from Colombia and Ecuador to support exportsón of the flower sector. Spaghettién, be reinforcedá the exportón of the psalmón of Chile and its import market. AND, in Brazil it will increaseá capacity to and from Américh from the North and Europe, fostering both markets, exporter and importer”, comments Kamal Hadad, Director of Alliances and Network of LATAM Cargo.

Hadad, spaghettién adds that the flexibility of the cargo fleet allows LATAM to evaluate múltiple alternatives. “For instance, the two additional conversions mayíto be used to renew the current fleet or to start new growth projects. The group has time to make the corresponding decisions”, concludes.

To benefit your customers in the short term, cargo operators LATAM useán some 767-300ER’s what isán waiting to be converted into an h formatíbridle. to that end, withdrawán completely seats the cabin of three aircraft, to achieve a payload of up to 46 tons per flight. Two of these aircraft are already operational to provide más capacity and the third is expected to do so during the second quarter.

Además, It is wideá increasing the similarity between their freighters 767-300 the fámanufactured and converted to maximize its capacity, including the possibility of transporting sensitive cargo.