LATAM Cargo has launched freighter services from Brussels and Madrid to Sao Paolo and Santiago, becoming the only carrier to operate freighters on these routes.

According to LATAM, the new services are part of the company’s long-term objective of providing customers with a network which meets their cargo requirements between Europe and South America onboard both freighters and passenger aircraft.

The decision was also in response to the region’s growing demand as well as the need to provide alternatives to avoid rising congestion at major European airports. Brussels, which will be served twice a week, was selected for its pharmaceutical traffic as well as other kinds of merchandise, while Madrid, which will be service once a week, has seen an increase in the transportation of traditional industrial products and other goods such as parcels, textiles and e-commerce shipments, all of which require expanded capacity and just-in-time logistics.

“We are very optimistic about our new direct freight routes from Brussels and Madrid,” said Guido Henke, senior commercial director of Europe at LATAM Cargo. “And our customers’ enthusiastic response has led us to consider the possibility of increasing our current schedule.”

Both destinations will be served with Boeing 767-300F aircraft, which will fly to Santiago via Sao Paolo.

“By expanding our network we are in a position to offer more and better alternatives to our customers,” said Claudio Torres, international commercial director of South America at LATAM Cargo. “This is particularly important for the South American market, where we export fresh, temperature-sensitive products that require shorter transportation periods.”

Brussels and Madrid join Amsterdam and Frankfurt as LATAM Cargo’s freighter destinations in Europe, while the carrier also offers belly capacity on LATAM’s passenger flights to and from Barcelona, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Milan and Paris.

The schedule for the new flights is as follows.