Impressive year-on-year 32% increase in cherry exports out of Chile on the part of LATAM group, as announced earlier this week. In figures, that translates into around 7,546 tons and places LATAM group in first place on the list of airlines transporting the sweet fruit. Part of the increase was thanks to the group being able to increase its cargo capacity by 16% compared to previous year. The overall tonnage increase is all the more impressive given all the wet weather the country suffered, affecting its cherry production. The 2023-2024 cherry season began mid-OCT23, with a first shipment of Chilean cherries from Santiago to New Zealand and on to China through interline agreements. The airline group’s cargo subsidiaries operated a cargo fleet of 20 planes during the season (including a temporary new freighter), and offered 19 weekly frequencies from Santiago dedicated to cherries. According to its press release: “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.” It goes on to point out the virtue of air transportation which enables the fast transfer of fresh cherries from Chile to China in just 45 hours – a key benefit when it comes to perishable products that the group carefully carries through its FRESH service.
Claudio Torres Faini, Commercial SVP in South America at LATAM Cargo Chile, underlined: “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.”
