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The cargo subsidiaries of LATAM group operated with a cargo fleet of 20 planes for the season, thanks to the addition of a new cargo aircraft that allowed it to increase the offered capacity by 16% compared to the previous year.
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Air transportation emerges as an essential alternative for cherry exporters, especially at the beginning of the season due to the expedite transit time, allowing cherries departing from Santiago, Chile, to arrive in China in just 45 hours.
Santiago, January 15, 2024. LATAM group is the largest air carrier of Chilean cherries by 2023, with approximately 7,546 tons of this fruit exported from Chile, representing a 32% growth compared to the previous year.
Chile leads in cherry exports in South America, and LATAM group plays an essential role, transporting 30% of the total volume by air. The majority of cherries, around 90%, are destined for Asia for Chinese New Year celebrations, while a smaller proportion is directed to other markets such as the United States and Brazil.
With a focus on its customers, LATAM group prepared for the season by incorporating 19 weekly frequencies from Santiago dedicated to cherries. The company also added a new cargo aircraft temporarily to its fleet to provide more capacity for cherries and the upcoming high season for flowers, bringing the total number of aircraft to 20 and allowing them to increase the offered capacity for cherries compared to the previous year.
Despite challenges presented by rains in Chile significantly affecting cherry production, LATAM Cargo achieved an important growth by the end of the year. Claudio Torres Faini, Commercial SVP in South America at LATAM Cargo Chile, commented, "We are fully committed to providing our customers with solutions tailored to their needs. In response to a challenging season, we have implemented flexible measures, adjusting both flight frequencies and destinations. This has not only allowed us to offer our customers a greater variety of alternatives but has also generated growth opportunities, especially in the U.S. market."
LATAM group inaugurated the 2023-2024 season with the first shipment of Chilean cherries departing from Santiago in mid-October to New Zealand, later transported to China through interline agreements.
Air transportation becomes an essential alternative for cherry exporters, especially at the beginning of the season, thanks to the expedited transit time, where in only 45 hours, cherries departing from Santiago, Chile, can arrive in China.
Through its FRESH product, LATAM group ensures a stable and scalable solution for the transportation of perishables such as cherries or salmon, aiming to maintain their quality and freshness from origin to final destination.
The company was recognized by the International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) in the corporate category, standing out among 12 other companies in the sector.
The initiatives presented are part of its sustainability strategy, which includes three pillars: Climate Change, Circular Economy and Shared Value, highlighting its commitment to the protection of South America's strategic ecosystems, the migration to a zero waste to landfill model, and the availability of its connectivity capacity for the benefit of the region's communities, respectively.
Brussels, November 8, 2023. The robust sustainability strategy of the LATAM Group and their significant achievements in this field have earned the group's cargo subsidiaries recognition from International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) with the Air Cargo Sustainability Award in the fifth edition of these awards.
This distinction encompasses both companies and standout initiatives in the sector that lead the way towards a more sustainable air cargo industry. LATAM Cargo emerged as the winner in the corporate category, outshining 12 industry competitors. A panel of five experts in the field of sustainability and aviation judged and selected their sustainability initiatives, collectively known as "An Essential Destination."
"As a group, we have set ambitious goals because we believe this is a necessity, not an option. This strategy and our objectives are the roadmap we have outlined to meet this priority. We appreciate TIACA for this recognition, as it reinforces that we are on the right path and encourages us to continue working strongly in our commitment to the planet and society," stated Cristina Oñate, VP of Marketing and Product Development at LATAM Cargo.
“It gives me great pleasure to congratulate LATAM Cargo for being selected as the overall Corporate winner. I thank everyone that participated in the awards for sharing their work and look forward to getting information out there on all of the good work the industry is doing to become more sustainable.” Stated Steven Polmans, TIACA Chair.
The awarded initiatives are based on the company's sustainability strategy launched in 2021, and they are divided into three key areas: Climate Change, Circular Economy, and Shared Value. Under these pillars, the company has outlined a roadmap for the next 30 years, with the goal of being a positive force in the countries where it operates, generating economic, social, and environmental value in each of them.
To achieve their objectives, the LATAM Group has set targets to reduce and offset the equivalent of 50% of domestic emissions by 2030, on the path to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. They have also established goals to eliminate single-use plastics throughout their operations by 2023 and to become a zero-waste-to-landfill group by 2027. Additionally, they are committed to making their connectivity capacity available for the benefit of regional communities under their Solidarity Plane program.