E-commerce transforms the air cargo transport scenario in Brazil
- REsource interviewed executives from GOL and LATAM to understand the potential of Brazil's air logistics market
Data from Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac) shows that in August 2024, commercial aircraft transported 118,000 tons of cargo and mail. This entire operation depends on personnel, transport, and storage facilities, even if only for a short period.
The country's main cargo airports—Guarulhos, Viracopos, Galeão, Manaus, and Afonso Pena—are supported by a vast supply of A+, A, and B-class logistics warehouses nearby. Within a 5 km radius, these facilities have an occupancy rate above 90%, except in Manaus.
According to the Air Transport Yearbook, compiled and published by the Market Monitoring Department (GEAC) of the Superintendence of Air Services Monitoring (SAS/ANAC), the main airlines operating in Brazil—LATAM, GOL, and Azul—all have specialized air cargo divisions.
Otávio Meneguette, Director of LATAM Cargo Brazil, explains that the company transports 111,000 tons domestically each year. Internationally, the figure reaches 150,000 tons. One key driver of this growing number is e-commerce.
“We’ve noticed a rapid shift in cargo profiles and demands post-pandemic. Digitalization and e-commerce have enhanced the importance of a seamless shopping experience, with fast deliveries of smaller volumes becoming a critical factor. The current growth in the market stems from this shift in consumer behavior, requiring shorter lead times and higher service levels,” says the executive.
Partnerships
Market Analytics data shows that the goods and services sector, including e-commerce, holds the largest market share of industrial properties tenants, accounting for 34.2% of national occupancy. The largest tenant in Brazil is Mercado Livre, which occupies over 1.4 million square meters of gross leasable area (GLA).
Serving all of Brazil, Mercado Livre benefits from a partnership with Gollog, the logistics operator of GOL Airlines. In an interview with REsource, Gollog Executive Director Rafael Martau shared that they completed more than 3,500 flights for Mercado Livre in 2023 alone.
“The partnership is expanding, with expectations of increasing the fleet by 2025 and extending routes to reach more major cities. GOL's operational strength allows Mercado Livre to cut delivery times by up to 80% for longer routes, such as to the North and Northeast regions, and by up to 50% for medium-range routes, such as the Midwest,” says Martau.
The partnership began in 2022, and since then, more than 81 tons of packages have been transported across 8,300 flights. Martau explains that Gollog’s entire operation, not just its work with Mercado Livre, involves six exclusive cargo planes and GOL’s entire fleet for belly cargo transport.
“Air transport offers significant speed in delivering goods, enabling rapid stock replenishment in a short time frame, preventing store operation interruptions. Strategies like using dedicated freighters ensure swift, on-time product deliveries, leveraging the speed of air transport and intelligent logistics,” he explains.
Growth
The outlook is positive. Both airlines see a promising future for the coming years. Gollog's executive director believes air transport is essential, particularly for high-value goods, and that demand is growing.
“From a demand perspective, the sector continues to grow rapidly, despite external challenges, such as rising fuel prices. Several factors are driving this ongoing growth, including the e-commerce boom and the need for fast deliveries across different sectors, connecting companies and consumers with increased operational efficiency in supply chains,” he highlights.
In the second quarter of 2024, GOL reported approximately R$ 315 million in revenue.
LATAM Cargo’s director also notes that this trend is not limited to Brazil but is happening worldwide, making air transport one of the preferred modes for shippers.
“Global air cargo transport is growing, including in Brazil, and is becoming a key player in consumer relations, with fast, efficient deliveries gaining increasing visibility in the market and logistics operations,” he concludes.
