LATAM Airlines’ new Boeing 767 belly route from Lisbon (Portugal) to Guarulhos (Brazil) took-off on Monday (3 September) carrying a full load and included six tonnes of freight for Panalpina.
The five-times weekly service is part of LATAM Cargo Group’s strategy to strengthen and expand its connection network between Latin America and Europe.
Commercial director for Europe, Guido Henke said: “Brazil is a highly demanded and growing market for European exports as well as for passengers.
“Being able to offer capacity out of Europe from our 7 and soon 8 hubs including our Lisbon operation starting as from 3 of September will ensure to all our customers a variety of options in order to guaranty speed, consistency and reliability within our network and product portfolio.”
The Lisbon-Guarulhos service will primarily benefit cargo transportation from the Iberian Peninsula and the rest of continental Europe to South America by reducing travel time between the countries.
Panalpina’s global head of air freight procurement and product management, Markus Muecke said: “This new, direct LATAM Cargo route will increase the connectivity between Europe and South America and improve speed and reliability for our customers on both sides of the Atlantic.
“For Panalpina, Brazil is one of the strongest growing air freight markets, so this new route is a great opportunity for us to expand our business even more.”
Henke added: “We are constantly evaluating new routes to increase our connectivity within our network to maintain our leadership from, to and intra Latin America considering customer´s needs in the center of our decisions process.”
LATAM Group has opened more than 30 routes in recent years, which it says gives its customers multiple connection options to cut down cargo transportation time.
Muecke added: “Over the years, LATAM Cargo and Panalpina have intensified their partnership and significantly grown volumes – not only on the southbound route from Europe to Latin America, especially with automotive cargo, but out of Latin America too, with general cargo, pharmaceuticals or perishables.
“LATAM offers the right mix of belly and freighter capacity and performs very well. We enjoy close cooperation on all levels between our companies and we look forward to growing the business together.”
