In 2025, Grupo LATAM recorded a 30% share of cargo movement in South America , achieving revenues of 1.7 billion dollars (USD), equivalent to 11.4% of consolidated revenues, thus reaffirming the strategic relevance of this segment.

“Our leadership in South America is the result of a deep understanding of the market and a model that combines a dedicated cargo fleet with the capacity of the group’s passenger aircraft. This integration allows us to offer real flexibility to customers, respond to the seasonality of each industry, and maintain efficient and reliable connectivity throughout the year,” said Santiago Álvarez, Chief Commercial Officer of LATAM Cargo Group.

He specified that this regional leadership was accompanied by the company’s greatest expansion between Europe and South America, reaching 15 weekly cargo frequencies and increasing its capacity by 25% .

With this, the group consolidated the most extensive air cargo network between both continents, strengthening exports of perishable goods as well as imports of industrial and pharmaceutical cargo .

Álvarez emphasized that Grupo LATAM plays a fundamental role in the air transport of the most emblematic products of South American foreign trade, such as flowers, fruits and salmon.

As a specialist, he indicated that in the transport of perishables, the group’s operation prioritizes the preservation of the cold chain , from origin to final destination, ensuring consistent standards of quality and compliance in highly demanding markets.

In flowers, the group moved around 250,000 tons from Colombia and Ecuador during 2025 , maintaining a leading position in one of the most relevant flows of this product, between South America and the United States, as well as for the Valentine’s Day 2026 season, where LATAM led for the fourth consecutive year the air shipment of flowers from both countries to the United States and Europe.

From Chile, the company shipped approximately 80,000 tons of salmon, primarily to the United States, solidifying its leading position in this strategic segment with nearly 50% of the exported volume transported by air. In addition, it shipped over 70,000 tons of fruit from Chile, Peru, and Brazil, reinforcing its presence in key intercontinental trade routes.

Regarding imports to South America, the main products transported were industrial inputs, machinery, e-commerce goods , pharmaceuticals , among others. This segment registered a 7% growth in volume compared to 2014.

In particular, the pharmaceutical segment grew 43% in volume transported during 2025 and the specialized network reached 221 active routes under CEIV Pharma certification.

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The Netherlands is the world’s leading flower producer, accounting for around 68% of total floral production, while Colombia is currently the world’s second-largest exporter of cut flowers.

The LATAM Group, through its cargo subsidiaries, transported more than 25,000 tons of flowers from Colombia and Ecuador, a volume that represents a 4% increase compared to the same holiday last year.

“The strong results we achieved this Mother’s Day season are a clear testament to the trust our customers place in LATAM. Our commitment to the flower industry and to each and every one of them transcends peak demand periods,” said Claudio Torres Faini, Commercial Director for South America at LATAM Cargo Group.

The company significantly increased its cargo flight offering, increasing frequencies from Colombia and Ecuador by 48% for this celebration.

The Mother’s Day operation resulted in a logistical deployment of more than 430 takeoffs in just three weeks , of which 231 flights departed from Bogotá and Medellín, and 200 originated in Quito, connecting the flowers to key markets such as the United States and Europe.

Meanwhile, Avianca Cargo mentioned that this season closed with a new record , moving 20,100 tons of flowers transported from Colombia and Ecuador to the United States and Europe.

This, he explained, is an achievement that directly impacts the well-being of thousands of families, in an industry where 70% of formal jobs are held by women.

“Behind every flower is a team committed to a common purpose: to ensure that each flower arrives fresh, on time, and with the care that only a mother can understand. Thank you to our teams, partners, and customers for being part of this shared achievement, and to all the mothers who make it possible inside and outside our operations,” she said.

While the Maerks shipping company  indicated that while 93% of Colombia’s flower exports are transported by air, ensuring rapid delivery to meet the tight deadlines of this important holiday, 7% are shipped by sea.

Although he explained that although it is slower, maritime transport offers a significant advantage: it allows the transport of large volumes at carefully controlled temperatures.

For example, when flowers are transported from Colombia to the United States, the process begins with the harvest, then they are carefully packaged, pre-cooled, and loaded into temperature-controlled containers. They are shipped via the America Shuttle route from ports like Cartagena and Buenaventura to Miami, Jacksonville, and the Port of Hueneme. Upon arrival, shipments are inspected and transferred to cold storage facilities in cities like Charleston and Houston, maintaining optimal freshness. From there, they are distributed throughout the country through a temperature-controlled network.

“Behind every bouquet lies a complex and carefully timed logistics chain. The logistical challenge of keeping flowers fresh from the field to the florist is significant. Flowers, being highly perishable, require strict temperature control, specialized packaging, and precise transportation scheduling to maintain their freshness from the grower to the end customer,” he noted.

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