LATAM carries 12.8 tonnes of aid to flood-hit Galápagos
An A319 carries 12.8 tonnes of humanitarian aid to flood-hit families in the Galápagos, overcoming airport restrictions through an innovative preighter operation.
LATAM Airlines Group activated its Avión Solidario (Solidarity Plane) programme within hours of receiving an emergency assistance request to support more than 2,000 families affected by flooding on Santa Cruz Island in the Galápagos. The flooding was caused by heavy rains associated with the El Niño phenomenon.
Working with the Chamber of Industries and Production (CIP) and Grupo Entregas, LATAM Ecuador, with support from LATAM Cargo Group, transported 1,000 food and hygiene kits and 9,600 litres of water from Quito.
The operation presented a logistical challenge as Baltra Airport could not accommodate the Boeing 767 freighters typically deployed by LATAM Cargo Group for such missions. Rather than reduce the volume of aid, the cargo teams adopted an alternative loading procedure that allowed freight to be carried in both the aircraft's hold and passenger cabin of an A319.
Using this approach, the aircraft carried 6,700 kg of cargo in its hold and an additional 6,100 kg secured on cabin seats, bringing the total payload of humanitarian supplies to 12,800 kg.
The operation enabled the A319 to transport more than three times its regular cargo capacity of approximately 3,500 kg on a passenger flight and nearly twice its hold-only capacity of 6,800 kg.
Andrés Bianchi, CEO of LATAM Cargo Group, said, "In an emergency, the main goal is to get aid there as quickly as possible. Because of the restrictions in the Galápagos, meeting that goal meant a Plan B: flying an A319 as a 'preighter.' Being able to carry this out so quickly highlights the creativity, expertise, and passion of the LATAM group's teams. Thanks to them, and together with partners such as CIP and Grupo Entregas, we were able to carry more than triple the aid this aircraft normally transports.”
Through this initiative, LATAM reiterated its commitment to the Avión Solidario programme, leveraging its regional connectivity and cargo capabilities to support social and humanitarian causes across the region.