LATAM Cargo Group starts the year with the addition of a new Boeing 767 BCF to its homogeneous fleet, which now totals 17 cargo aircraft, allowing for a 6% increase in the capacity offered to its customers.
With this arrival, the company is moving forward with its announced growth plan, which would see it reach a total of up to 20 Boeing 767 Cargo aircraft by 2024, coming close to doubling its pre-pandemic capacity offering, and thus reaffirming its position as one of the leading cargo airlines groups in the region.
Said Andrés Bianchi, CEO of LATAM Cargo Group: “We welcome this new freighter during another challenging period for the air freight industry. When we designed our capacity plan in 2019 we had these periods in mind.
“Therefore we sought to build a freighter fleet that could sustain high levels of service while continuing to add value to our shareholders during a downturn like this one. Complementing our broad belly network with an efficient, mid-size aircraft like the Boeing 763F does that.
“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 expand our network.”
The new aircraft, converted in Singapore, will focus on one hand on increasing the capacity currently offered from Europe, generating greater connectivity to Central and South America, via New York and Miami, with two new weekly frequencies, which had been communicated by the end of 2022.
It will also provide support on new routes, such as the recently announced one operating on the Quito (Ecuador) – Los Angeles (United States) – Houston (United States) – Manaus (Brazil) – Viracopos, Sao Paulo (Brazil) routes.
The new addition is also part of the cargo group’s efforts to have a rejuvenated fleet, since 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.