The Load Star
Ian Putzger
02 Apr 2026
Lima’s Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) is on a roll, fuelled by a rapid expansion of exports – but in Santiago, the mood is less ebullient.
For the first time the International Air Transport Association (IATA) picked a city in South America to host its annual World Cargo Symposium in February. The decision, meant as a recognition of the region’s growing importance in global air cargo, put the spotlight on an airport that has undergone a $2bn overhaul that ushered in a second runway, a new control tower, a new passenger terminal three times bigger than its predecessor and brought an expansion and modernisation of the cargo area.
More news about planned cargo development is in the pipeline, according to Arturo Vera, the airport’s head of corporate strategy.
The growth of cargo throughput suggests more capacity is needed; last year 267,153 tonnes of freight and mail passed through the airport, an increase of 16.7% over 2024...
A tale of two airports as LatAm-North America traffic expands - The Loadstar - 02 Apr 2026
