Diogo Elias appointed as new CEO of Avianca Cargo
He transitions from his role as Senior Vice President, a position he held since September 2023.;
Diogo Elias assumed the role of CEO at Avianca Cargo on May 1, 2025. Previously serving as Senior Vice President since September 2023, he now leads the company’s strategic growth efforts. Under his leadership, Avianca Cargo will focus on fleet expansion, route network diversification, digital transformation, and entry into new markets. With a network spanning over 350 destinations through cargo flights, interline agreements, and passenger operations, the company remains committed to operational excellence.
During his tenure as Senior Vice President, Elias led the company to be ranked among the top six cargo airlines globally by the ACNA index, making it the only Latin American airline to feature in the list. Under his leadership, Avianca Cargo expanded its network and built a consistent service portfolio. The company achieved a significant milestone in the United States by establishing 25 direct cargo connections from Miami.
Elias takes over as CEO of Avianca Cargo from Gabriel Oliva, who served in the role from August 2021 to April 2025 and now serves as Chief Operating Officer at Avianca Group.
Elias first joined Avianca Cargo in June 2023 as Corporate Vice President before being promoted to Senior Vice President three months later. Before that, he spent nearly nine years with LATAM Airlines, holding several leadership roles from 2013 to 2022, including Commercial Manager, Commercial Director, Managing Director, and Sales & Marketing Director. His work at LATAM spanned multiple domestic markets, including Brazil, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Argentina, and Ecuador.
Late last year, Avianca Cargo unveiled a new brand focus under the message “we are doing it for you”, reinforcing its commitment to customer-centric service and long-term partnerships. As part of this campaign, the airline also launched a new aircraft livery installed in Medellín on freighter N332QT. Diogo Elias discussed this repositioning and its significance for the company and its clients in an interview with The STAT Trade Times on the sidelines of the TIACA Air Cargo Forum in Miami.