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E-commerce Surge Fails to Close Latin America's Air Cargo Gap

Rising e-commerce volumes are reshaping Latin America's air cargo landscape but have not resolved the region's persistent directional imbalance. According to LATAM Cargo executives, online retail shipments have increased significantly into the region, yet declining industrial cargo is offsetting those gains. LATAM Cargo group CEO Andrés Bianchi noted that auto parts and mining equipment shipments have contracted even as e-commerce booms, leaving the import-export gap unresolved. E-commerce reliance introduces operational complexity, with online retail more vulnerable to regulatory cycles than traditional freight. Avianca Cargo identified e-commerce as its largest southbound growth driver, particularly on Miami-Colombia lanes. The carrier also handles mining cargo, auto parts and pharmaceuticals into Brazil, Chile, Ecuador and Central America, with resumed Venezuela freighter service carrying online retail. Balancing Latin American exports with inbound e-commerce demand remains a strategic challenge for regional carriers.