Avianca Cargo is clear that Mexico is a strategic hub where it is making a series of investments in different segments with the goal of offering a more efficient and cost-effective service in the face of scenarios such as the United States’ tariff policy.

Diogo Elias, the company’s CEO, explained at a press conference that as an airline, they don’t make short-term plans. He noted that Avianca is about to celebrate 106 years of operations and 52 as a cargo carrier, 30 of which have been in Mexico.

“We’ve already gone through everything, including tariffs. It’s important to keep an eye on what’s going to happen, the consequences, what’s happening now, and we don’t make plans for one or two years. When a fleet is acquired, it’s for a plan of at least 10 years. We’ve already been through various crises, the pandemic being the biggest of all, a challenge for passengers, cargo, the entire industry, the economy, so we’re vigilant. Our market is industrial, so of course, tariffs can generate additional costs, but our way of thinking is to be an increasingly efficient company, with newer aircraft and better prices to offer customers depending on the current situation,” he said.

During the presentation of Avianca Cargo Mexico, he explained that the company has been working on the strategy for this new brand for two years , as well as on topics such as maintenance, operations, and business with suppliers, among others.

“Mexico is at the center of the strategy because it’s the second-largest market in Latin America, so we have to operate here, and there’s no better way to do it than with a great partner after a major transformation of the fleet, talent, operating methods, customer promises, and now with a renewed brand,” he mentioned.

It’s worth mentioning that last June, the then- AeroUnion announced it would operate under the name Avianca Cargo México, a change that seeks to strengthen global air cargo connectivity through a renewed fleet and allow it to serve markets such as pharmaceuticals and perishables, among others.

The cargo airline stated that it will maintain its own capital structure , operating permits, corporate governance, and technical, labor, administrative, and financial resources.

The collaboration between Avianca Cargo and now Avianca Cargo Mexico promotes the strengthening of the route network and the increase in capacity that will allow it to serve key sectors such as the technology, automotive, pharmaceutical, and medical device industries, among others.

Danilo Correa, CEO of Avianca Cargo Mexico, said that this new brand is the result of a joint effort through a commercial alliance that seeks to position it, but above all, to raise the standard of service and the promise of value for customers , through global connectivity that connects Mexico and the west coast of the United States with more than 350 destinations through alliances with other airlines.

As well as fleet renewal, which is the core of the strategy, and through a team of people who are “highly trained, skilled, experienced, and committed to delivering excellent, world-class service.”

Avianca Cargo currently has six A330 aircraft based in Colombia and two more in Mexico , while a seventh is expected to join the fleet by the end of September.

“The renewal of the fleet in Mexico has been the company’s biggest commitment in the country, a fleet that has greater load capacity, is more cost-efficient, and also brings a number of attributes that make it possible to transport special goods in cold conditions, oversized goods, etc., which makes the product superior,” Correa said.

He asserted that the country “has everything” and in terms of industry, trade, and economy, “we already know who the Latin American environment is. It’s a market we must be in, not out of obligation, but out of conviction.”

“Mexico is connected to the entire global economy, so the possibilities are endless. We feel ready and prepared to grow hand in hand with our clients and our strategic allies. Mexico is our strategic hub; we will increase our positioning and increase our cargo volume in the coming years,” he said.

Comment and follow us on X:  @GrupoT21

El cargo Mexico, a strategic hub for Avianca Cargo apareció primero en T21.

European aircraft manufacturer Airbus announced that Brazilian Levu Air Cargo has put into operation its first converted A321, leased from SmartLynx, becoming the first company in Latin America to fly this type of aircraft.

The converted A321 freighter can carry up to 27 tonnes with a range of up to 3,800 kilometres, allowing Levu to operate in a flexible and optimised manner, offering the lowest unit cost in its class and the lowest fuel consumption and carbon emissions.

He explained that due to its optimized fuselage cross section it offers the possibility of transporting a wide variety of pallet and container sizes , “offering operators unmatched capabilities.”

Airbus recalled that more than 18,000 A320 Family aircraft have been ordered and more than 11,000 delivered since the A320 entered service.

Levu’s A321 will be supported by NAVBLUE, Airbus’s airline operations company, with a dedicated set of solutions to enhance the performance, navigation and safety of its operations. While addressing critical operational challenges, these solutions will improve the airline’s operational efficiency.

Levu Air Cargo is a Brazilian cargo airline specializing in domestic and international transport. It is headquartered in Campinas and has air bases throughout the country. It plans to operate more converted aircraft in the near future.

Airbus has sold more than 1,300 aircraft in Latin America and the Caribbean, with around 800 in service across the region and nearly 500 on order.

Comment and follow us on X: @GrupoT21

El cargo LEVU AIR CARGO, WITH THE FIRST A321 CONVERTED TO FREIGHTER IN LATIN AMERICA apareció primero en T21.

Over the next 20 years, the global freighter fleet is expected to grow to 3,900 aircraft , including new production and converted planes, due to the expansion of emerging markets and global growth in manufacturing and e-commerce, according to estimates by Boeing, the U.S. aircraft manufacturer.

The company said the air cargo market is above pre-pandemic levels , and this type of transport will grow by an average of 4% per year until 2043.

“As the fastest and most reliable way to move goods, the sustained growth of air cargo has returned the industry to its long-term trend. There will be many factors that will drive demand for freighters over the next 20 years,” said Darren Hulst, vice president of commercial marketing for the company.

Announcing Boeing’s Global Air Cargo Forecast (WACF) 2024 , a biennial overview and long-term outlook for the industry , it said the global air cargo fleet is expected to grow to 3,900 aircraft by 2043 , a two-thirds increase from 2,340 freighters in 2023.

While nearly half of production and conversion deliveries will replace freighters being retired with more capable and fuel-efficient models, due to recent market needs, many older jets remain in operation.

He noted that driven by demand in high-growth Asian markets, the fleet of large wide-body freighters will almost double.

Meanwhile, markets in East and South Asia will see the largest year-on-year traffic growth, driven by expanding economies and consumer demand.

With  the Asia-Pacific fleet set to nearly triple , carriers in that region will need the largest number of deliveries (980), closely followed by North America (955). These two regions will account for more than two-thirds of global deliveries.

Meanwhile, India’s domestic air cargo market is expected to nearly quadruple as express and e-commerce networks expand.

Express carriers , for their part, will serve a quarter of the air cargo market (increasing from the current 18%).

“This sector is poised to grow faster than the industry average due to the increasing role of e-commerce distribution and the expansion of express networks in emerging markets,” he said.

Comment and follow us on X:  @GrupoT21

El cargo Boeing Forecasts Increase in Freighters Over the Next 20 Years apareció primero en T21.