Mexico City-headquartered cargo carrier, AeroUnión, has received an A330 passenger-to-freighter converted aircraft which will be operated on behalf of its Colombian partner, Avianca Cargo. The aircraft will replace a nearly four-decades-old Boeing 767-200F. According to a joint AeroUnión / Avianca Cargo release, three additional A330P2F conversions are to follow between this year and 2025.
Mexican Cargo carrier, AeroUnión, has received its first passenger-to-freighter-converted Airbus A330 as a first step in modernizing the aging freighter fleet. The announcement was preceded by a decision of Mexico’s Federal Economic Competition Commission (Cofece), published on 11FEB23, paving the way for the requested merger between Tampa Cargo (Avianca Cargo), and Aero Transporte de Carga Unión (AeroUnión). Following the official authorization of their pact, both carriers were allowed to integrate their operations, jointly market their transport capacities and serve a harmonized network, provided their merger would not harm free competition and not lead to monopolistic pricing structures. That would be an abuse of market power, forcing Cofece to intervene, warned the regulator.
Integrated expansion strategy
A year and a half after getting the green light for their merger, AeroUnión and Avianca Cargo have implemented operational standards, developed new business opportunities, started modernizing AeroUnión’s fleet, and have taken steps to consolidate their offerings in the Colombian, Mexican, and North American freight markets.
A visible sign of this growing together is the introduction of the A330P2F that offers 60% more transport capacity compared to the aging B767F belonging to the Mexican carrier’s fleet so far. In their press announcement, both airlines emphasize that the fleet rollover is part of an integrated expansion strategy, particularly benefitting customers located on the West Coast of the U.S.
Diogo Elias praises the A330P2F
“Freight transportation has shown significant improvement in recent years compared to pre-pandemic levels. Latin American exports have increased by approximately 16%, while imports have seen a 10% recovery. The A330 is an ideal aircraft due to its higher volumetric capacity and lower environmental impact, attributed to enhanced fuel efficiency per ton,” remarked Diogo Elias, Senior Vice President and Head of Avianca Cargo.
Currently, Avianca Cargo has six A330 freighter aircraft in its fleet, while AeroUnión has added five more units. The new A330P2F will primarily transport perishable products such as fruits and flowers, as well as oversized cargo for automotive, mining, and the oil sectors, along with e-commerce and smaller parcel shipments.
Right freighter at the right time
Avianca Cargo’s network connects to more than 68 destinations, 56 of which are online. It operates 220 cargo flights and utilizes the lower deck capacity of more than 1,800 weekly passenger flights for cargo transport. This solidifies its position as the main capacity provider serving one of the region’s largest networks, operating cargo aircraft with limited greenhouse gas emissions. Further to this, Avianca Cargo stresses that it is the first airline in the Americas to obtain IATA CEIV certifications in all four categories: Pharma, Fresh, Live, and Lithium Batteries.
“We are happy to receive the new A330 P2F; an aircraft that comes to reinforce our service and reliability offer, increasing our volumetric capacity and improving our connectivity to the West Coast markets in our region,” exclaimed Danilo Correa, AeroUnión’s CEO, upon delivery of the A330P2F on 10JUL24. “Avianca Cargo has a long history of initiating innovative air cargo solutions, and the commercial agreement with AeroUnión is a testament to this legacy, as well as its commitment to creating economic opportunities,” said Doug Webster, Interim Chief Operations & Maintenance Officer, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA).
