Colombia and the US agreed to expand the agreed traffic rights, including the so-called seventh freedom of air rights, which will now allow cargo airlines from both countries to load on flights to and from third states. in which the airline’s country of origin is not the point of origin or stopover.
For example, a company authorized to operate in Colombia has an aircraft based in Miami and schedules a flight to Guatemala, the right granted allows that aircraft to fly to that third country transporting goods. The United States can do the same if it has an aircraft stationed in Colombia and, for example, needs a flight to Brazil to transport goods.
Aerocivil highlighted that this will allow the companies nominated by the two countries to expand their markets and strengthen their international presence, in addition to benefiting trade and the economy with more competitive prices.
Colombia, the main cargo market in South America
Colombia has one of the most dynamic cargo markets in the region with more than 30 companies operating in the country. To see also : The lack of a pilot interferes with summer travel, hurting efforts to revitalize the industry..
“For Colombia, the modernization of the Air Transport Agreement with the United States is of great importance considering that in the first half of 2022 249,552 tons were mobilized between the two countries, which is an increase of 11.4% compared to the same period last year. 224,065 tons were mobilized,” said Ángela María Orozco, Colombia’s Minister of Transport.
“Also, 34,167 tons were transported in June, compared to June 2021, an increase of 3.8%, when 32,924 tons were transported,” he added.
US airlines operating in Colombia include ABX Air (Miami-Bogotá), Atlas Air (Miami-Bogotá); DHL (Miami-Bogotá), FedEX Express (Miami-Bogotá and Medellín/Cordoba) and UPS Airlines (Miami-Bogotá).
Other companies also operate between the United States and Colombia, such as Qatar Airways, Martinair, Cargojet, Avianca Cargo, Ethiopian Airlines Cargo, Turkish Airlines Cargo, LATAM Airlines Cargo and Aercaribe.
As Francisco Ospina Ramírez General Director of Civil Aeronautics (E) stated, “the market between Colombia and the United States has a high concentration on the Bogotá – Miami – Bogotá and Medellín – Miami – Medellín routes, as it is 95.7%. of transport”. Likewise, Miami has solidified itself as the main destination for Colombian cargo.
“It is also the presence of an important number of operating operators, thanks to the liberalization policy launched by the National Government, which is reflected in a better way in the international transport of goods, which guarantees a diverse range of services. the user and the one who will benefit from signing the Amendment Protocol to the agreement”, concluded Ospina Ramirez.
