LATAM Group has operated an aircraft into Qatar for the first time when a LATAM Airlines Brazil cargo-only B777-300 aircraft landed in Doha in late November with perishables from South America destined for Asia.
Said Kamal Hadad, VP Network and Alliances of LATAM Cargo: “Landing in Qatar for the first time is the clearest demonstration of our commitment to satisfy the needs of our cargo customers.
“With the help of our subsidiaries, we managed to successfully coordinate and implement a route permitting to reduce transport time to relevant markets while supporting export and import markets in South America.”
A second flight departed on December 7 towards Doha. These LATAM operations carried over 95 tons of fresh fruit, which connected with interline partner Qatar Airways onward to Shanghai.
They also facilitated the importation of more than 60 tons of electronics into the Brazilian and Chilean markets, in time to meet the Christmas season demand.
LATAM Cargo maintained its strategy of using passenger aircraft as all-cargo transport during the pandemic, mitigating the belly capacity reduction caused by the global border closure.
The B777-300 on this route took off from Guarulhos airport in Brazil en route to Santiago, Chile, with a technical stop in Recife, Brazil, before continuing its journey to Doha. The return flight ended in Guarulhos.
More than 50 people from different departments formed the team responsible for the implementation and logistics of this operation, which totalled flying18 hours from its origin in Brazil until its final destination in Doha.
Hadad added: “We are aware this route is temporary and responsive to the high fruit season in Chile and the greater demand for electronics during Christmas time, but we will continue to adapt our operation to better serve our customers and carry South American products to the world.”
