The Americas are undergoing a significant realignment in air cargo flows, driven by shifting geopolitical alliances, evolving trade policy, and the rapid acceleration of cross-border e-commerce. For Jean Ceccaldi, CEO of ECS Group, these changes aren’t just turbulence – they’re openings for strategic gain.
“Disruption is translating into opportunity,” Ceccaldi told Air Cargo Week. “Northbound flows out of Mexico, Central America, and South America are accelerating, while Canada and the US are generating fresh southbound demand.”
Brazil, however, presents a more complex picture. “New 50 percent tariffs on US imports are already driving exporters toward intra–Latin American trade, but the shortfall will be hard to cover,” he said. ECS Group’s focus is on “positioning capacity with precision, leveraging interline solutions, and enabling carriers to monetise new flows.”
Focused strategy
Across Latin America, inconsistent infrastructure, market fragmentation, and regulatory divergence have long complicated cargo operations. But for ECS Group, these challenges are raw material for competitive advantage.
“Latin America is fragmented by definition—no two markets behave the same,” Ceccaldi said. In Brazil, surplus passenger lift is pushing cargo into Viracopos, while secondary airports – Cabo Frio, São José dos Campos, Florianópolis. are increasingly attractive to freighter operators.
ECS Group connects the dots through bonded trucking, feeders, and deep-rooted local partnerships. “The result: airlines access both major and secondary markets seamlessly, converting underserved cargo into commercial advantage.”
Customs complexity still slows down regional flows, but there are signs of progress. In Brazil, “the rollout of electronic data interchange tools like CCT is already reducing clearance times and increasing transparency.” Variations across jurisdictions persist, Ceccaldi admitted, but ECS Group tackles this with a digital-first approach: “We turn this into a competitive edge… by driving digital documentation, aligning procedures, and engaging directly with stakeholders.”
While northbound trade remains underpinned by perishables from Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, the dynamics of the return leg are changing fast.
“e-commerce imports from China into Brazil and Mexico are creating powerful backhaul flows: freighters landing with e-commerce leave fully loaded with fresh produce and pharma bound for the US and EMEIA,” Ceccaldi said.
This round-trip model is shaping ECS Group’s capacity strategy: “balancing scheduled belly lift with targeted freighter deployment, securing year-round round-trip economics and stronger yields.”
The growth of e-commerce is also rewriting distribution across Latin America. “Chinese platforms are now establishing inventory hubs in Mexico and Brazil, driving demand for regional distribution,” he said. ECS Group is enabling airline partners to “capture this fast-moving sector with real-time e-booking, direct system integration, and agile network planning that supports higher frequencies and efficient co-loading.”
Even so, volatility remains a defining feature. Perishables drive peaks, while verticals like pharma and automotive help sustain flows between harvest cycles. “Airlines are deploying freighters during these high-demand windows and linking into neighbouring markets to stabilise performance,” Ceccaldi explained. ECS Group supports this by “consolidating exports and designing networks that absorb volatility.”
Infrastructure and intermodality
Ceccaldi sees regional hubs as central to unlocking the Americas’ potential. “Miami has proven the model—turning massive seasonal perishables peaks like Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day into sustained revenue streams,” he said. Other cities could soon follow. “Los Angeles, Houston, and Toronto are poised to replicate this success with the right infrastructure.”
But to build scale from fragmented sources, intermodal integration is essential. “Intermodality is no longer optional—it is the commercial key to unlocking new markets.” In Brazil, excess belly supply is pushing exporters to redirect through Viracopos and other secondary airports. Elsewhere, freighters link deeper into the continent: “Manaus, Curitiba, Lima, Quito, and Bogotá” are all in scope, with bonded trucking filling the gaps.
Digital infrastructure is another critical piece. “The Americas are on the cusp of a digital leap,” Ceccaldi said, pointing to Brazil’s sprawling geography and more than 200 active forwarders. “Investment in e-booking platforms and deeper integration with forwarders is now mission critical.”
