LATAM Cargo launched its direct freighter link between Miami and Belo Horizonte’s Confins airport one year ago – and the bet on Minas Gerais as a logistics hub has already paid off. 829 tons of cargo were carried in the first 46 weeks, and the forecast is that the end of the first year will end with more than 900 tons having been transported. A Boeing 767-300F is deployed on the weekly flight (Saturdays), offering up to 50 tons of cargo capacity. Its load mix predominantly features industrial commodities such as equipment, components and spare parts destined for the region’s mining, rail and manufacturing sectors.
LATAM Cargo and BH Airport marked the anniversary on 24SEP26, with an event at Belo Horizonte International Airport, bringing together around 50 guests, including BH Airport CEO, Daniel Miranda, Geovane Medina, Commercial Manager at BH Airport, and LATAM Cargo’s Senior Sales Manager for North America, Simón Benzaquen. The numbers shown then, are pretty impressive: Compared to the JAN-AUG25 period before the route launched, cargo flying from Florida into Minas Gerais rose 16.3%. LATAM’s own share of that market jumped from 19.3% to 35.6%, while BH Airport’s international cargo share climbed 7% points. Most dramatic: cargo moving directly through the Miami–Confins partnership went from a negligible 0.5% market share to 13.4%.
The route joins LATAM’s broader freighter network linking Brazil to over 15 countries, and comes as the airline just logged its 16th straight month leading Brazil’s domestic belly-cargo market, with a 40.9% share in JUL26 alone.
Andres Varela, Commercial VP for LATAM Cargo in the United States and Asia, said: “The consolidation of the Miami–Confins route in its first year highlights the importance of a direct freighter connection between Miami and Minas Gerais, as well as our customers’ confidence in the operation. The route serves critical sectors for the state’s economy, such as mining, rail, and heavy industry, supporting the transport of machinery, components, and parts with greater speed and reliability. We remain committed to a long-term sustainable operation and closely attuned to demand trends to support our customers’ evolving needs.”
Geovane Medina, Commercial Manager at BH Airport, revealed: “The route’s first year demonstrates that air connectivity gains even greater value when integrated into an infrastructure capable of seamlessly moving cargo onward within Brazil. At BH Airport, we combine customs clearance, warehousing, import processing, and distribution into a single platform, expanding options for companies and strengthening Minas Gerais’ integration into global trade flows. The connection with Miami is a strategic pillar of this model and establishes the foundation for sustainable growth.”
