Liege and Viracopos seek new Europe-Brazil cargo routes

Liege Airport in Belgium and Viracopos International Airport in Brazil are partnering to attract new freighter services between Europe and South America, with a focus on pharmaceuticals, technology shipments and international e-commerce.

The airports signed a memorandum of understanding at Air Cargo Forum Miami on 27 October 2026 to develop the Liege-Viracopos cargo corridor and strengthen their roles as gateways for airlines, freight forwarders and shippers serving both continents.

Frederic Brun, Vice-President of Sales and Marketing at Liege Airport, and Maria Fan, chief commercial officer at Viracopos International Airport, signed the agreement. The airports will identify commercial opportunities and establish regular engagement between their business development teams.

The partnership will involve joint customer targeting, market intelligence, promotional activities and discussions with potential airline partners. The airports will also consider commercial incentives and conduct technical and operational studies to assess opportunities for new all-cargo services.

Pharmaceuticals will be a priority for the partnership. Viracopos reported that the value of its pharmaceutical imports increased by 43% in 2026. The airport is also building a dedicated cold warehouse that will double its pharmaceutical storage capacity. Liege will contribute its pharmaceutical cargo expertise and relationships with specialist logistics providers.

Both airports have dedicated facilities for freighter operations, with direct connections between aircraft handling areas and cargo warehouses. Their experience in handling time-sensitive and temperature-sensitive shipments is expected to support the development of services for cargo requiring reliable handling and predictable transit times.

Liege's network connecting Asia and Europe complements Viracopos' position in Brazil and the wider South American market. The airports aim to develop more direct cargo traffic between Europe and Brazil while exploring opportunities to move shipments between Asia and Latin America through Liege.

Technology shipments are another area of focus. According to Viracopos, the airport handles 45% of Brazil's airborne high-tech imports. Growing demand for data centres, driven by digitalisation, artificial intelligence and cloud computing, is supporting imports of server racks and related equipment.

Viracopos also expects Brazil's REData tax regime to encourage further investment in data centres. The measure provides for a five-year suspension of federal taxes on qualifying data centre equipment acquisitions, potentially supporting additional imports and creating opportunities for airlines and logistics companies serving the technology sector.

International e-commerce will form another part of the partnership. An additional dedicated warehouse covering 20,000 square metres is already operational at Viracopos. The facility provides expanded X-ray inspection capabilities and direct apron access, alongside improvements to the airport's logistics centre.

The airports said closer integration between cargo operators and government agencies had also helped reduce customs bottlenecks at Viracopos. These capabilities, combined with Liege's cargo network and connections across Europe, will support discussions with businesses seeking distribution options into Brazil and other Latin American markets.

The airports will develop a shared target list, exchange commercial information and hold regular calls and face-to-face meetings. They also plan to participate jointly in industry events and share exhibition activities to promote the corridor to potential customers.

Brun said the partnership would help the airports identify opportunities across Europe, Brazil and onward markets by combining their networks and specialist handling capabilities. He added that the priority was to build relationships with airlines and freight forwarders to support route development and provide efficient connections for pharmaceuticals, technology and other valuable cargo moving in both directions.

Fan said Viracopos was investing in the facilities and capabilities needed to support the next stage of Brazilian air cargo growth. She added that the partnership would help connect these investments with a complementary European gateway, with particular potential in pharmaceuticals, technology and international e-commerce.

The airports have not announced any airline commitments or launch dates. Discussions on prospective services remain confidential, and the partners will focus on developing commercially viable proposals based on market demand, airline requirements and operational capabilities.