The growth of e-commerce and the dynamism in exports have not been enough to trigger the development of air cargo infrastructure in Latin America , where most airports still have limitations in this segment, despite having the necessary space to expand.

Key airports in the region, such as those in Lima, Bogotá, Quito, and Santiago, have focused their efforts on growing passenger traffic, neglecting the development of cargo facilities. However, there is a significant opportunity to strengthen this area without building dedicated cargo airports.

“We don’t need dedicated cargo airports, but we do need better use of existing airports for this segment,” says Peter Cerdá, regional vice president for the Americas at the International Air Transport Association (IATA), in an interview with T21.

The executive emphasizes that, unlike saturated terminals such as Mexico City International Airport (AICM) , where there is no longer room to expand infrastructure, most Latin American airports still have enough physical space to develop specialized cargo facilities, a sector that continues to grow, driven by the export of products such as flowers, fruits, meats and fish from countries such as Mexico, Peru, Colombia, Chile, Brazil and Ecuador.

Cerdá warns that, in addition to expanding infrastructure, it is essential to improve competitiveness by reducing taxes and optimizing operating conditions. As an example, he cites the case of Lima, where a new passenger terminal was built without a parallel development of the cargo terminal, resulting in operations continuing at their limit.

If you wish to continue reading this text published in the June 2026 edition of T21 magazine, we invite you to consult the digital version  by clicking here .

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El cargo The invisible debt of Latin American airports apareció primero en T21.

With the goal of strengthening the technical capabilities of its distributor network in Latin America, Cummins held the Power Innovation Forum , a regional meeting that brought together more than 120 participants from Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador and Peru, the company reported in a statement.

During the forum, the company addressed topics related to innovation in powertrain systems , fuel efficiency, after-sales technical support, and strategies to respond to the demands of increasingly competitive markets.

The meeting also served as a feedback space between the brand and those who have direct contact with operators and fleets.

According to Cummins , the event aimed to strengthen the engineers and technical representatives who work directly with customers on a daily basis, as well as to promote greater regional integration and collaboration between teams from different countries.

“The exchange of experiences and technical knowledge is fundamental to building increasingly sustainable and competitive solutions. Events like the Power Innovation Forum strengthen the technical capabilities of our network, as well as the connection between the people who drive Cummins’ growth in the region every day,” said Jorge Machuca, leader of the Engines segment for Cummins Latin America.

As part of the event’s closing, the company held an awards ceremony to recognize outstanding projects from its dealer network in categories such as Best Practice , Customer Acquisition , Customer Management , Customer Support Plan, and Fuel Economy . The awards focused on incentivizing excellence in customer service and technical operations.

Cummins emphasized that these types of meetings are part of its strategy to promote sustainable solutions, continuous improvement, and collaborative work in the face of current industry challenges in Latin America.

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El cargo Cummins strengthens technical capabilities of its network in Latin America apareció primero en T21.

Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) ranked  third in the top 10 airports in Latin America and the Caribbean for cargo handling during 2025, only behind El Dorado in Colombia and  Guarulhos in Brazil.

This was reported by the Airports Council International-Latin America and the Caribbean (ACI-LAC) , which also revealed that the volume of air cargo has had a slight increase of around 1.7% in relation to 2024, reaching more than 3.8 million tons transported last year.

Preliminary figures show that traffic is most concentrated at El Dorado International Airport, located in Bogotá, Colombia.

While Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima, Peru, increased cargo by 16.6% in 2025 compared to 2024, followed by Tocumen International Airport in Panama, with 14.6 percent.

Meanwhile, Mexico City International Airport (AICM) ranked ninth, with a year-on-year growth of 4.3%.

ACI-LAC reported on the busiest airports in the region for 2025, with Guarulhos Airport being the busiest , handling over 47.1 million passengers. It was followed by El Dorado with over 45.4 million passengers, and Mexico City International Airport (AICM) with over 44.6 million.

The total number of passengers exceeded 790 million in 2025, representing a 3.8% increase in air traffic compared to 2024.

“The 2025 results demonstrate the strength of the region’s main airports. Guarulhos, El Dorado, and Benito Juárez have consolidated their position as strategic hubs, driven by international connectivity and the recovery of domestic demand. These figures confirm that aviation in the region continues to expand, even in the face of global challenges, and underscore the role of our airports as essential drivers of economic and social development,” stated Rafael Echevarne, Director General of ACI-LAC.

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El cargo AIFA “lands” in third place in the top 10 cargo movement in Latin America and the Caribbean apareció primero en T21.

Over the past five years, Latin America has made progress in sustainable mobility, with Chile being the country with the most actions in this area; however, some issues remain, such as the regulatory framework and carrying out profitable projects and infrastructure , according to industry specialists.

Lala Céspedes, CEO & Co-founder of Singular City , said that while the model of fleet electrification , the use of clean energy, and other issues that contribute to sustainable mobility are evolving within the region, in Argentina, for example, despite the openness of the market, financing, and public policies, a regulatory framework that provides solidity to the projects is still required .

“To be competitive regionally, we need to plan for that next step, to plan for that solidity for companies that are going to invest and become a benchmark, to have an initial capital expenditure within a model structure. We are in a growth process, that’s from Argentina, but we do see that regionally it is increasingly necessary to define a regulatory framework with stakeholders from the entire value chain,” he explained in the webinar LATAM: Roadmap 2026 for Mobility and Energy .

He also pointed out the need to identify profitable projects, plan them and implement them, because in Latin America there are several pilot tests, “but they are not clearly aligned as a region, as micro-regions.”

He indicated that Chile is leading the way in public policy , with a long-term perspective, to implement systems, while Colombia has strengthened the contractual system, Brazil has made progress with electric or hybrid vehicles, but a more macro “view” like that of Europe is required and “not to be like little lights, each one exploring and being regional laboratories.”

Meanwhile, Alex Ascón, senior consultant at Urban Wave , mentioned that the technology used in these types of units is already validated, and that vehicle prices are now more accessible than they were five years ago due to the significant presence of Chinese brands in Latin America.

“We see that the biggest gap that would accelerate progress in Peru is the charging infrastructure , which continues to be one of the areas where investment is said to be very high compared to other technologies. The vehicle itself is no longer the main obstacle; Chinese brands are the ones that have managed to moderate prices,” he stated.

He stressed that having an infrastructure plan like Chile’s would help to boost this sector in the rest of the countries in the region.

For her part, Pamela Peña, BD Manager Smart Mobility at Hiberus, stated that what is “moving the needle” this year is the direct subsidy , but also legal certainty and standardization in the region.

He said that countries like Chile have worked on interoperability, allowing any user to use the charging infrastructure across the network, becoming a facilitator and “eliminating the fear of autonomy”; in addition, there is significant private investment.

“We have a large fleet, certainly not comparable to Brazil’s, which is immense, or Mexico’s, but it’s not a small fleet, and we also have a fairly limited fleet turnover; companies don’t usually keep their fleets for more than two to four years at most, and that gives a different perspective to all the variables we have to consider. This democratization of sustainable mobility allows SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) to also renew their fleets, which is a vital point for logistics. Another interesting point is the financing options available for buses, especially in cities like Bogotá and Mexico City,” he stated.

In that sense, he anticipated that by 2026 the market for light electric vehicles in Chile and the region is expected to reach a historic milestone of penetration due to regulations that the countries have in common .

Meanwhile, Israel Galván, senior business developer at Autocab , explained that in Mexico there are tax benefits, such as exemption from tax payments, verifications, and the adoption of the natural gas conversion option.

“In some ways we are making progress, and being a country with a lot of technology, we are learning from the Chilean and Brazilian models. The government has also been promoting the electrification of vehicles. We are moving forward,” he emphasized.

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El cargo A regulatory framework is urgently needed to advance sustainable mobility in Latin America apareció primero en T21.

LIMA, PE.- The International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimated that cargo transport will have a global growth of 2.6% this year, while for Latin America it will be 2.2% , although the increase will depend on infrastructure, efficient regulatory frameworks and a lower tax burden.

“Latin America remains an extremely expensive region for exporting and importing. We need to be competitive, reduce or eliminate taxes and VAT (Value Added Tax) in several countries, as this puts us at a disadvantage compared to other regions,” explained Peter Cerdá, IATA’s regional vice president for the Americas.

At a press conference, within the framework of the 19th IATA World Cargo Symposium (WCS) , he described the above as a serious problem, although in certain countries such as Colombia, Brazil and Mexico there has been progress.

“But we need better definitions of regulations, elimination of taxes that keep getting too high, and infrastructure improvements,” he reiterated.

Cerdá emphasized that e-commerce and the agricultural sector have shown aggressive growth , the latter mainly during peak seasons on the Chile-China route, as well as the export of flowers from Colombia or Ecuador to Europe or the United States.

He considered the market to be more competitive. “We were more limited in the past, in that connectivity that depended on other transit destinations to move cargo; that is changing, and I think Brazil is a great power, but again, it has regulations that make air transport not competitive globally,” he emphasized.

“We are growing, not at the same rate, but there is more connectivity and more products being exported. With e-commerce growing alongside the middle class, we will see more growth in the future, which until now has been limited,” he explained.

At the event, he recalled that Peru built the new Jorge Chávez Airport without a master plan for cargo handling infrastructure. “We are using outdated services at an airport that is extremely important for cargo,” he stated.

Peter Cerdá indicated that while improving passenger infrastructure is critical in the region, improvements for cargo are also important .

He explained that digitalization is another area where the region still needs to improve. “Technology is something we struggle to develop and implement, and that’s another area where we have work to do, not only as a sector or government, but as an ecosystem to improve that area.”

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El cargo Efficient regulatory frameworks and lower taxes would boost air cargo in Latin America apareció primero en T21.

American Airlines Group will invest one billion dollars (USD) in the expansion of Terminal D at Miami International Airport (MIA) , which is an essential hub and international gateway for the airline.

“The new and redesigned D60 is a transformative project that will provide a much better experience for our customers and our team. This investment, along with the new VIP lounges and new routes, reflects our shared commitment to Miami-Dade County and the airport to ensure that Miami remains the premier gateway from the United States to Latin America,” said Robert Isom, CEO of the airline.

The project will begin in 2027 and will include a three-level expansion to create 17 new boarding gates to accommodate larger aircraft and eliminate exterior boarding. The shared boarding area will also be expanded, incorporating adjacent spaces for each gate to optimize passenger flow and offer customers more space and comfort.

The expansion will also facilitate international arrivals and offer direct access from the third floor to the customs hall. The new terminal will feature spacious, bright areas with indoor palm trees, as well as new dining and shopping options for travelers.

“The D60 expansion is one of the most significant customer service improvements within our unprecedented, airport-wide modernization plan that will transform the passenger experience from the cockpit to the curb over the next five years,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.

At Miami International Airport, American Airlines operates approximately 400 daily departures and, with its summer schedule, plans to operate more than 380 flights per day during peak hours to 155 destinations in 45 countries. The airline accounts for more than 60% of traffic and, for Latin America and the Caribbean, provides access to more than 90 destinations, including new service to Milan, Italy, and Bimini, Bahamas.

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El cargo American Airlines announces investment to expand Terminal D at Miami airport apareció primero en T21.

proportion of returns at 65.01% , followed by shoes at 28.27%; accessories at 4.20%; and electronics at 1.54%. The main reasons for returns are for receiving a different or unexpected product (75.8%), changing one’s mind (20.2%), and receiving a damaged product (2.6%).

The report indicated user preferences in the region between exchanges and refunds, and in which country each prevails. 57% of users prefer exchanges , and of that total, 26% generated upsells ; while 43% prefer refunds. In Mexico , refunds are preferred at 52.9% , while Chile and Colombia prioritize exchanges, at 55.6% and 61.2%, respectively

Regarding return processing times, the report indicated that 28.89% of customers request a refund between one and five days after purchase , while 32.52% do so after 15 days. Only 0.98% request a refund between days 10 and 15, showing a split between early and late resolution. Return peaks are concentrated midweek and between 10:00 AM and 8:00 PM, coinciding with peak online activity times.

The study also recorded customer behavior when requesting a refund, with 76.4% preferring to receive the refund via the same payment method used , while 23.6% opted for a gift card . Regarding exchanges, 77.9% of users chose to replace the product with the same item, while 22.1% preferred to exchange it for a different one.

In returns logistics, the choice is split between Pick Up (50.04%) and Drop Off ( 49.96%), while Out Of Home grows to between 30% and 40% when available. 72% of consumers expect returns to be as fast as delivery, driving the growth of on-demand returns with pickups in under 30 minutes .

In addition, the report noted that during events such as Cyber , Hot Sale , Buen Fin, and Black Friday , returns increase by up to 40% and extend for more than three weeks

After-sales service, key to returns

The study emphasized that after-sales service is a decisive factor in repeat purchases and customer perception. The biggest negative impacts on the Net Promoter Score (NPS) come from slow resolution times, refund delays, and unclear policies .

A good returns experience, with fast, transparent and flexible processes, can increase the likelihood of repurchase by up to 35%, showing the consumer’s sensitivity to clarity and speed in the resolution.

The report indicated that after-sales service is projected to be a strategic lever this year, with exchanges, gift cards , and personalized workflows surpassing simple refunds in terms of value retention . Omnichannel integration and the use of technologies such as experience-oriented Artificial Intelligence (AI) are emerging as trends that will shape the evolution of the sector.

In 2025, the global value of returns reached $850 billion , with 15.8% of retail sales and 19% of online sales ending in returns. Global e-commerce reached $6.8 trillion, with Latin America playing a significant role, contributing between $150 and $160 billion, representing a 12.2% growth and a 21.8% increase in order volume.

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El cargo Exchange beats refund in Latin America for e-commerce: Reversso apareció primero en T21.

E -commerce has transformed shopping habits and the way returns are handled in Latin America. 57% of users prefer to exchange items compared to 43% who opt for a refund in the region, according to the report “Predictive After-Sales: How AI and Personalization are Redefining E-commerce in Latin America ,” conducted by the software company Reversso 2025, which analyzed consumer behavior in Chile, Colombia, and Mexico during 2025

According to the report, fashion accounts for the largest proportion of returns at 65.01% , followed by shoes at 28.27%; accessories at 4.20%; and electronics at 1.54%. The main reasons for returns are for receiving a different or unexpected product (75.8%), changing one’s mind (20.2%), and receiving a damaged product (2.6%).

The report indicated user preferences in the region between exchanges and refunds, and in which country each prevails. 57% of users prefer exchanges , and of that total, 26% generated upsells ; while 43% prefer refunds. In Mexico , refunds are preferred at 52.9% , while Chile and Colombia prioritize exchanges, at 55.6% and 61.2%, respectively

Regarding return processing times, the report indicated that 28.89% of customers request a refund between one and five days after purchase , while 32.52% do so after 15 days. Only 0.98% request a refund between days 10 and 15, showing a split between early and late resolution. Return peaks are concentrated midweek and between 10:00 AM and 8:00 PM, coinciding with peak online activity times.

The study also recorded customer behavior when requesting a refund, with 76.4% preferring to receive the refund via the same payment method used , while 23.6% opted for a gift card . Regarding exchanges, 77.9% of users chose to replace the product with the same item, while 22.1% preferred to exchange it for a different one.

In returns logistics, the choice is split between Pick Up (50.04%) and Drop Off ( 49.96%), while Out Of Home grows to between 30% and 40% when available. 72% of consumers expect returns to be as fast as delivery, driving the growth of on-demand returns with pickups in under 30 minutes .

In addition, the report noted that during events such as Cyber , Hot Sale , Buen Fin and Black Friday , returns increase by up to 40% and extend for more than three weeks.

After-sales service, key to returns

The study emphasized that after-sales service is a decisive factor in repeat purchases and customer perception. The biggest negative impacts on the Net Promoter Score (NPS) come from slow resolution times, refund delays, and unclear policies .

A good returns experience, with fast, transparent and flexible processes, can increase the likelihood of repurchase by up to 35%, showing the consumer’s sensitivity to clarity and speed in the resolution.

The report indicated that after-sales service is projected to be a strategic lever this year, with exchanges, gift cards , and personalized workflows surpassing simple refunds in terms of value retention . Omnichannel integration and the use of technologies such as experience-oriented Artificial Intelligence (AI) are emerging as trends that will shape the evolution of the sector.

In 2025, the global value of returns reached $850 billion , with 15.8% of retail sales and 19% of online sales ending in returns. Global e-commerce reached $6.8 trillion, with Latin America playing a significant role, contributing between $150 and $160 billion, representing a 12.2% growth and a 21.8% increase in order volume.

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El cargo Exchange beats refund in Latin America for e-commerce: Reversso apareció primero en T21.

The Mexican Association of Mobility Authorities (AMAM) , together with the  National Association of Bus, Truck and Tractor-Trailer Manufacturers (ANPACT) , the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the government of Quintana Roo  convened the Latin American Forum of Mobility Authorities , a regional meeting aimed at strengthening public decision-making in matters of transport and mobility.

The forum, which will take place on February 12 and 13 in Quintana Roo , will bring together more than 300 specialists and federal, state and municipal authorities from Mexico and 10 other Latin American countries.

Its focus is primarily on officials responsible for designing, regulating and operating mobility systems , as well as strategic actors involved in their implementation.

The Latin American Forum of Mobility Authorities seeks to delve deeper into real-world planning, regulation, and implementation processes, going beyond general assessments. The agenda includes approximately 30 keynote addresses, technical panels, and case study sessions, with the aim of reviewing comprehensive experiences, from institutional design to the daily operation of transportation systems.

The program places authorities from all three levels of government at the center of the discussion, integrating the participation of specialists, the heavy vehicle automotive industry, transport operators, technology solution providers, development banks, multilateral organizations, academia, and civil society.

Diego Monraz, president of AMAM, noted that the forum emerged as a space driven by the authorities themselves to strengthen the quality of public decisions through the exchange of real-world experiences and peer learning. Meanwhile, Albania González, executive secretary of AMAM, emphasized that the value of the meeting lies in its technical focus and the possibility of adapting solutions to different state and municipal contexts.

Rafael Hernández Kotasek, director of the Quintana Roo Mobility Institute , emphasized that the forum will allow for the sharing of challenges faced by entities undergoing transformation processes in their mobility models. From WRI Mexico, Angélica Vesga highlighted that the organization’s participation focuses on providing technical evidence to strengthen the institutional capacities of the authorities.

From the industrial sector, Rogelio Arzate, executive president of ANPACT, emphasized that the transformation of transportation systems requires informed and viable public decisions , accompanied by the technical participation of the industry. He added that the forum allows authorities to learn from operational experiences that can facilitate better policy implementation.

Access to the forum will be free for previously registered public officials, and will include spaces for technical collaboration and specialized analysis.

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El cargo Latin American forum being prepared to strengthen decisions on mobility apareció primero en T21.

High transportation costs, limited connectivity, and lagging infrastructure in ports, roads, and railways continue to hinder productive efficiency in Mexico and the rest of Latin America, warned the report ” Seizing the Moment: Latin America’s Productivity Opportunity ,” prepared by McKinsey & Company .

According to the analysis, Mexico is the best-positioned country in the region thanks to its integration with North America. With 63 data centers and low-latency connections , less than 200 milliseconds (ms) to the United States, it strengthens its role in manufacturing and digital services .

Sectors such as medical devices, with exports exceeding 20.3 billion dollars (USD) in 2023, and participation in semiconductor production, driven by the Kutsari project which seeks to strengthen design capabilities and establish specialized R&D centers, along with the automotive industry, position the country as a strong competitor in the region.

However, its road and rail networks require modernization to reduce costs and travel times , bringing prices closer to the standards of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) . The report also noted that the country faces the challenge of strengthening its electrical infrastructure to meet the growing demand from advanced manufacturing.

He emphasized that Mexico has the geographic advantage and industrial capabilities to lead regional expansion . Its challenge will be to guarantee energy reliability, invest in infrastructure, and improve logistical efficiency, especially in underserved regions, to consolidate its position as the engine of Latin American productivity in the coming years.

Latin America, the big bet

The consulting firm detailed several indicators that explain Latin America’s lagging position, such as the lack of infrastructure that restricts intraregional trade. According to the report, intraregional trade represents only 15% of total exports in the region, far below the 60% recorded in the European Union . The situation could improve if countries made joint investments in shared physical and digital infrastructure, including regional ports, highways, and digital traffic management systems, which would be key to ensuring trade flows.

Despite these obstacles, the region has a promising outlook. By 2040, Latin America could transform its next-generation manufacturing sector and generate up to $200 billion in additional annual revenue , provided it manages to mobilize accumulated investments of nearly $230 billion.

The potential lies in industries such as electric vehicles, batteries, semiconductors, and medical devices, which could grow at compound annual growth rates of between 5% and 16%, depending on the scenario. Factors such as the energy transition, supply chain diversification, technological advancements, and the growing demand for healthcare create opportunities. However, the region will need to strengthen its infrastructure and develop its human capital .

Given this, Latin America faces a dilemma: maintain its backwardness or opt for a logistical and energy transformation that allows it to take advantage of its potential ; and Mexico, with its strengths and challenges, is emerging as one of the key players for this change.

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El cargo Logistics and energy, pending issues for Mexico and Latin America: McKinsey & Company apareció primero en T21.