LATAM Cargo maintains its leadership in the transportation of Chilean cherries, closing 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 Cargo 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 Cargo 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 the company 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, 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.”
The company inaugurated the 2023-2024 season with the first shipment of Chilean cherries departing from Santiago in mid-October on one of LATAM’s planes 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.
