A dual hub strategy offers opportunities – Air Cargo Weekly

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 international connectivity and Bogotá’s regional infrastructure to improve speed, cold chain efficiency and regional access.

Miami has grown from a gateway to America to an international center for perishable exports, especially flowers, fruits and fish. The city’s geographic proximity to Colombia and strong truck connections throughout 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 internationally. They have the ability to fly from anywhere, even from Asia, and from Miami,” noted Diego Elias, CEO of Avianca Cargo, emphasizing the dual role of the city as an exit and transit hub.

Miami’s operational layout allows for an exceptionally fast turnaround. Most of the flowers we ship don’t break at the airport, meaning they go straight from the plane to the truck in minutes—not hours.

“This efficiency is critical to keeping our customers fresh and maintaining the cold chain,” he said.

Degradable export concentrates indicate market forecast and operational plan. Colombia’s flower market, Brazil’s 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, noting the importance of South America as a global supplier.

Shippers and freight forwarders benefit from shorter travel times between regional hubs, while carriers gain efficiencies from multiple stops and network optimization. “You can import to Brazil and then export from Chile, and you’ll have a short flight from Sao Paulo to Santiago.”

Integrated operations and capacity building

The dual hub strategy extends to Bogotá, Avianca Cargo’s main operating hub, combining cargo operations with passenger aircraft capacity. In addition to its 130-strong passenger fleet, the airline operates nine dedicated freighters, using wide-body aircraft for intercontinental routes. This combination allows direct routing without unnecessary cargo transfers, increasing the reliability of perishable products.

“We have the ability to connect in and out of Bogotá, and we don’t need to transport the goods to Bogotá and then distribute them in vast structures, goods, flowers, especially flower and fish markets. It’s very close to Bogotá,” Elias said. Elijah said. Partnerships with third-party carriers, such as Amazon, add additional capacity, particularly in domestic markets in the United States and Latin America.

“We actually operate nine cargo ships, and one from Amazon, and we partner with them and do a lot,” he confirmed.

Operational trends show an increase in 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 take advantage of these capabilities, but shippers face pressure to maintain speed and capacity, especially during seasonal periods. Investments in certifications, infrastructure and service levels are key to maintaining competitiveness.

The South American air freight market benefits from geographic and manufacturing synergies that reduce reliance on long-haul flights. Efficient regional connectivity, combined with Miami’s international connectivity, allows carriers to combine imports and exports with minimal handling, maintaining quality loss. “Imports mostly come from Miami, but they also connect through Miami, either from Europe or Asia,” Elias continued.

Integration between cargo and passenger aircraft allows scalable response to market demand. By combining Miami’s transportation capacity with an operating base in Bogotá, Avianca Cargo can select routes for high-volume perishable exports while leveraging the partnership to increase flexibility. This model supports continuous service during peak seasons such as Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day at the flower market, while managing the flow of fruits and vegetables throughout the year. “We’ve grown by 3 in the last 14 to 15 months. So we have nine cargo ships operating from Bogotá to Miami and all markets in South America, Central America and Mexico,” Elias explained.