AIR CARG O WEEK
LATIN AMERICA
AIRFREIGHT HUBS IN LATIN AMERICA
T
“These airports are equipped with advanced cargo facilities and serve as essential links in the supply chain, facilitating trade and commerce across Latin America and beyond”
10
he top freight airports in Latin America are vital hubs for cargo transportation, handling significant volumes of goods annually. Here are some of the most prominent ones:
São Paulo-Guarulhos International
Airport (GRU), Brazil: This is the busiest airport in Brazil and a major cargo hub, handling a substantial amount of both domestic and international
freight.
Located in Guarulhos, a city known for its extensive industrial park and strategic location for multimodal logistics solutions, GRU is just 20 km from São Paulo, the largest industrial and commercial centre in the country. As the largest airport logistics complex in Latin America, it plays a crucial role in Brazilian logistics, connecting 34 countries, all state capitals, and major Brazilian cities with over 720 daily flights operated by 40 national and international airlines. Covering an area of 97,000 sq m, GRU Airport Cargo handles products from various industries,
including electronics, pharmaceuticals,
textiles, food and beverage, and automotive parts and accessories. Its location in Guarulhos provides easy access to major highways that link the airport to the rest of the country. The availability of daily regular flights also ensures greater capacity and efficiency in freight transportation. Ongoing investments in GRU Airport Cargo, totalling $8 million, are
focused on expanding and improving airport infrastructure to enhance capacity and efficiency for freight shipping. GRU once handled the Antonov An-225, the now-destroyed largest
aircraft in the world when it flew from the airport for Santiago, Chile with the largest cargo ever transported in the history of Brazilian aviation, and the second in the world. The strategy was co-ordinated by GRU Airport’s Operations and Logistics teams, from receiving and storing the cargo to the aircraft´s departure. The cargo consisted of a 155-tonne transformer, equivalent
to 135 medium-sized cars, manufactured by ABB, an energy and automation technology company. The operation required receiving and storing cargo, a few days before the flight, defining aircraft stand, loading location, positioning cranes, portals, rails, security and other requirements.
El Dorado International Airport (BOG), Bogotá, Colombia: El Dorado is one of the largest and most important cargo airports in Latin America and serves as a central hub for the region, with extensive cargo facilities. It is an international airport serving
Bogotá, the capital of Colombia, and its surrounding areas. Primarily located in the Fontibón district of Bogotá, the airport also extends into the Engativá district and reaches the municipality of Funza in the Western Savanna province of the Cundinamarca Department. With 760,000 tonnes of cargo passing through in 2023, it is Iberoamerica’s most important cargo hub. El Dorado is also the busiest and most significant airport in Colombia, handling nearly half (49%) of the country’s air traffic. The facility covers 1,700 acres (6.9 sq km) and features two 3,800m-long runways. El Dorado offers non-stop international flights to destinations in North America, South America, Central America, the Caribbean, Europe, and the Middle East.
Mexico City Juarez International Airport (MEX), Mexico: This airport is a key logistics hub for Mexico, managing a significant portion of the country’s airfreight. Juárez is operated by state- owned Aeropuertos y Servicios Auxiliares (ASA) and owned by Grupo Aeroportuario de la Ciudad de México. The Mexican Navy commenced management of the airport on October 7 2023.
Viracopos-Campinas International Airport (VCP), Brazil: Having won Airport of the Year at the recent Air Cargo Week World Air Cargo Awards 2024 and located near São Paulo, Viracopos is another crucial cargo airport in Brazil, known for its modern facilities and extensive freight services. Viracopos Airport serves the southeast Brazilian city of Campinas, located 100km north of São Paulo, Latin America’s second biggest city. The airport is one of three major facilities serving the wider São Paulo region, together with Guarulhos and Congonhas. Campinas is served by three of Brazil’s four main carriers. The dominant carrier is Azul, who maintain their hub at Campinas and whose extensive network accounts for the airport being the fifth busiest in Brazil by movements.
Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO), Quito, Ecuador: This airport plays a significant role in cargo transport, especially for perishable goods like flowers, which are a major export from Ecuador. Valentine’s Day marks the peak cargo season at Quito Airport, with
operations ramping up this year until February 11, 2024. This period is critical for the airport’s cargo operations, especially given that 92% of the cargo transported from Quito consists of flowers. To ensure efficient service during this busy time, significant
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36
