LATAM launches Huntsville freighter to meet Panalpina’s perishables needs

LATAM Cargo has launched a new Colombia-US freighter operation to meet the requirements of customer Panalpina.
The new weekly route was launched on December 2 and operates between Bogota and Huntsville using a 50 tonne capacity Boeing 767-300 freighter.
The airline said it had decided to launch the service in response to Panalpina’s request to cut down cargo travel time from South America to North America for its perishables products.
Previously the forwarder’s cargo needed to transit through Miami.
With this flight, Panalpina will reach Huntsville in approximately four and a half hours, "cutting down distribution time and simplifying the logistics process", the airline explained.
LATAM Cargo Group chief executive Andrés Bianchi said: “The sustainability of LATAM Cargo’s relationship with its customers is founded on trust and collaborative work.
“We are continuously supporting them with their projects by offering the best alternatives possible. This allows us to fulfill our desire to be perceived as strategic partners and to expand their business together.” 
Panalpina senior vice president head of airfreight/Americas region Roberto Schiavone added: “During the design process LATAM Cargo worked very closely with us to bring this innovative product into the market.
“This new flight, supported by our exclusive and recently inaugurated perishable centre in Huntsville airport, will  bring a competitive advantage to our customers.
“We will also use LATAM passenger flights from other countries in South America to feed our freighter out of Bogota, it is not only a service for the flowers from Colombia, but for all other perishable markets from the entire region.
“Together with LATAM Cargo, we are creating a new logistics import hub for the South American perishable products into the US market.”
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