LATAM Group has reinforced its position as South America’s leading airfreight operator, closing 2025 with a 30 percent share of the regional cargo market, the company announced during the World Cargo Symposium (WCS), the global air cargo industry’s flagship event, which is being held in South America for the first time.
The airline group reported that its cargo affiliates transported more than one million tonnes worldwide in 2025 and generated US$1.7 billion in revenue. Cargo operations accounted for 11.4 percent of the Group’s consolidated revenue, underlining the strategic importance of the segment within LATAM’s operating model.
The company’s operational performance, international expansion and ability to adapt to a complex logistics environment were also recognised globally. In 2025, LATAM Cargo Group was named “Cargo Airline of the Year” by Air Cargo News, becoming the first South American airline in the past 20 years to receive the distinction.
“Our leadership in South America is the result of deep market knowledge and a model that combines a dedicated freighter 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.
Europe–South America network expands
The group’s regional leadership was reinforced by its largest expansion to date between Europe and South America. LATAM increased freighter services on the corridor to 15 weekly frequencies, boosting capacity by 25 percent.
The expansion has enabled the Group to consolidate what it describes as the most extensive air cargo network between the two continents, supporting both South American perishable exports and imports of industrial and pharmaceutical products.
Key transporter of South American export products
LATAM continues to play a central role in transporting some of South America’s most significant export products. These include salmon from Chile, fresh fruit from Chile, Peru and Brazil, and flowers from Colombia and Ecuador.
As a specialist in perishable cargo, the group prioritises maintaining cold chain integrity from origin to final destination, ensuring product quality and compliance with standards required by international markets.
In the flower sector, LATAM transported approximately 250,000 tonnes from Colombia and Ecuador in 2025, maintaining a leading position in one of the most important trade flows between South America and the United States. The airline also reported leading flower shipments by air from both countries to the United States and Europe during the 2026 Valentine’s season, marking the fourth consecutive year it has held that position.
From Chile, the company transported close to 80,000 tonnes of salmon, primarily to the United States. This represents approximately 50 percent of the salmon exported by air from the country, reinforcing the company’s leadership in the segment.
In the fruit sector, the Group moved more than 70,000 tonnes from Chile, Peru and Brazil across major intercontinental routes.
Pharmaceutical imports drive cargo growth
Imports into South America also recorded notable growth. The main cargo categories included industrial inputs, machinery, e-commerce shipments and pharmaceutical products.
Overall import volumes increased by 7 percent compared with 2024. Within this, the pharmaceutical segment grew by 43 percent in transported volume in 2025. LATAM’s specialised network supporting pharmaceutical logistics now includes 221 active routes operating under CEIV Pharma certification.
With these results, LATAM Group says it has consolidated its position as the leading air cargo operator in South America, supported by a broad network, strong regional presence and a flexible operating model that combines dedicated freighter aircraft with passenger belly capacity to connect the region with major global markets.
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Author: Edward Hardy
