Avianca Cargo is strengthening its position in Miami as it expands its network, connecting Latin America to the rest of the world, leveraging the US city’s global connectivity and Bogotá’s local infrastructure to improve speed, cold chain efficiency and regional reach.
Miami has evolved from a gateway to the Americas to a global center for perishable exports, especially flowers, fruit, and fish. The city’s geographic proximity to Colombia and strong trucking connections across the United States make it a strategic air freight hub in Latin America.
“Miami is a strategic location for us in Latin America, but also globally. They have the ability to fly from almost everywhere, even from Asia, to and from Miami,” noted Diogo Elias, CEO of Avianca Cargo, stressing the city’s dual role as a departure and transit hub.
The Miami operating setup allows for exceptionally fast transfers. Most of the flower pallets we transport don’t break down at the airport, which means they go straight from plane to truck within minutes – not hours.
“This efficiency is critical to maintaining freshness and protecting the cold chain for our customers,” he said.
The concentration of perishable exports highlights market predictability and operational planning. Colombia’s flower market, Brazilian fruit exports, and seasonal products such as cherries create year-round cargo flows with seasonal peaks, which airlines can plan for. “Brazil is one of the largest exporters of fruit, not only to the United States, but also to Europe, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador,” Elias said, illustrating the importance of South America as a global supplier.
Freight forwarders and shippers benefit from short journey times between regional hubs, while carriers gain efficiency from multi-stop routing and network optimization. “You can serve imports to Brazil and then export from Chile, and you will have a short flight from São Paulo to Santiago,” he said.
Integrated operations and capacity growth
The dual hub strategy extends to Bogotá, Avianca Cargo’s main operations hub, combining cargo operations with passenger aircraft capacity. The airline operates nine dedicated freighters alongside its 130-strong passenger fleet, using wide-body aircraft for intercontinental routes. This combination allows direct routing without unnecessary cargo transfers, enhancing reliability for perishable products.
“We have the ability to connect in and out of Bogotá, and we don’t have to transport the goods to Bogotá and then divide it into the wide structures, the goods, the flowers, especially the flower and fish market. It’s very close to Bogotá,” Elias said. Partnerships with third-party carriers, such as Amazon, add additional capacity, especially in domestic markets in the United States and within Latin America.
“We actually operate nine cargo ships, plus one from Amazon, and we partner with them and do a lot,” he confirmed.
Operational trends indicate increased adoption of integrated air freight solutions. Miami’s combination of air, road and cold chain facilities enables efficient regional distribution, while South American production volumes create predictable, high-value cargo flows. Shippers and forwarders can exploit these efficiencies, but carriers face pressure to maintain speed and capacity, especially during seasonal peak periods. Investments in certifications, infrastructure and service level are key to maintaining competitiveness.
The South American air freight market benefits from geographic and production synergies that reduce reliance on long-haul flights. Efficient regional connections, combined with Miami’s global connectivity, allow carriers to consolidate imports and exports with minimal handling, maintaining perishable quality. “Imports mostly come from Miami, but they also connect via Miami, either from Europe or from Asia,” Elias continued.
The integration between freighter and passenger aircraft allows a scalable response to market demand. By integrating Miami’s transportation capacity with the operational base in Bogotá, Avianca Cargo can optimize routes for high-volume perishable exports while leveraging partnerships to increase flexibility. This model supports sustainable service during peak seasons such as Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day at the flower market, while managing fruit and vegetable flows throughout the year. “We have increased by 3 in the last 14 to 15 months. So we have nine cargo ships operating in and out of Bogotá with Miami and all the markets of South America, Central America and Mexico,” expressed Elias.
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