This week, LATAM Airlines Group announced the addition of its fourth passenger Boeing 767-300 aircraft converted to an all-cargo plane, as part of its growth plan announced last year. Now, the South American giant operates a freighter fleet composed of 15 jetliners.
More cargo capabilities
LATAM Airlines has been heavily increasing its cargo capabilities in the last two years. The company agreed to convert most of its Boeing 767 passenger fleet into the B767BCF allowing it to add more capacity to a growing market.
Yesterday, LATAM announced the addition of a fourth 767BCF consolidating its fleet; it now has 15 freighters. By 2023, the company plans to have a cargo fleet composed of up to 21 freighters. This aircraft, with a registration N564LA, will be operated by LATAM Cargo Colombia, and will allow increasing the cargo capacity between Europe and the Americas. Andrés Bianchi, CEO of LATAM Cargo, said,
“This freighter will allow us to strengthen our transatlantic offering, with more capacity from Europe to the USA, and to further connect cargo to multiple destinations in South America through strategic points like our Miami hub. We plan to continue expanding service to and from markets that are relevant for our customers as the remaining freighters included in our growth plan are incorporated into our fleet.”
LATAM has added a fourth passenger Boeing 767-300 aircraft converted to an all-cargo plane. Photo: LATAM Airlines Group.
Flying from Singapore
The aircraft was converted into a freighter in Singapore. On July 29, the airline began its journey back to South America. According to data by FlightRadar24.com, the aircraft left Singapore Paya Lebar Air Base (QPG) at around 13:25 local time, on route to Honolulu International Airport (HNL), Hawai. The next day, the jetliner departed from Honolulu to Miami (MIA) where it began its operations as a LATAM freighter jet, flying to Bogota (BOG).
Since July 31, the aircraft has been continuously flying between Bogota and Miami, completing a total of six round flights between both cities.
The 767-300BCF is a versatile airplane, able to carry up to 52 tonnes of revenue payload. According to Boeing, the aircraft is 18% more efficient per tonne than the Airbus A300F.
LATAM Cargo expects to add more frequencies and have a more diversified transatlantic network with the 767-300BCFs. The objective is to increase the connectivity between Europe and South America via New York JFK Airport (JFK)and Miami International Airport (MIA).
LATAM is set to acquire up to 12 Airbus A321XLRs. Photo: Airbus.
How will LATAM replace the 767?
Nonetheless, by adding new cargo aircraft, LATAM is decreasing the capacity of its long-haul fleet. LATAM currently operates 18 Boeing 767s, ten Boeing 777-300(ER), ten 787-8s, and 18 787-9s in this widebody segment.
The airline only expects to add a few additional Dreamliners in the future years, but the 767-300 could be replaced not with a Boeing aircraft but with an Airbus.
During Farnborough, LATAM endorsed the Airbus A321XLR aircraft, and it is expected the carrier will receive at least 12 units of this model in the future. We expect LATAM to employ the A321XLR on new routes to the United States or take the routes operated by the older Boeing 767 fleet. The airline currently operates 109 flights per week employing its 767-300s, and most of these are less than 4,700 nautical miles, meaning they could be operated by the A321XLR effortlessly. Some of these routes are ideal for the A321XLR, for example, Buenos Aires-Miami, Santiago de Chile-Miami, and Lima-New York.