Air cargo continues to occupy a relatively small share of global trade by volume, yet its economic significance remains substantial. Representing around 1% of global trade flows but close to 30% of their value, it plays a disproportionate role in connecting high-value goods across markets. Discussions held during the ACI Airport Day Quito suggest that this imbalance is increasingly shaping how airports ecosystems in Latin America and the Caribbean position themselves within broader economic systems.
Across the panels dedicated to cargo operations and airport development, several recurring themes emerged. Together, they point to a shift in how cargo is perceived—not simply as an operational function, but as a strategic component of airport ecosystems.
Cargo’s growing weight in airport strategies
Several speakers highlighted the broader impact of cargo beyond its direct commercial activity. While the business of cargo involves a defined set of actors—airlines, handlers and logistics providers—its influence extends further into regional economies.
The discussions suggest that cargo should not be assessed solely through volumes, but through the value it generates across supply chains. Even in a context marked by geopolitical tensions, evolving trade patterns and regulatory uncertainty, global cargo demand showed a 3.4% increase in 2025, with Latin American and Caribbean carriers recording 2.3% growth, alongside a 4.5% rise in capacity.
These figures indicate a certain level of resilience, but also point to a more complex environment in which operational efficiency and adaptability appear to be gaining importance.
Quito as a specialised cargo model
Within this context, Quito provides a particularly distinctive example. The Mariscal Sucre International Airport has developed a highly specialised cargo profile, closely tied to Ecuador’s export structure.
Since 2013, the airport has handled approximately 2.8 million tonnes of cargo, reaching a record of 406,754 tonnes in 2025. A defining characteristic of this activity is its concentration: around 92% of exports consist of flowers, positioning Quito as a key gateway for the country’s floriculture industry.
This configuration suggests a model where airport cargo activity is deeply integrated into a specific value chain. Rather than functioning as a diversified hub, Quito appears to operate as a specialised export platform, closely aligned with local production systems.
Such a model highlights both strengths and constraints, particularly in terms of balancing import and export flows.
E-commerce is reshaping cargo flows
Another dynamic repeatedly highlighted during the discussions relates to the rapid expansion of e-commerce.
In Ecuador, its share of total cargo volumes is reported to have increased from around 15% in 2023 to 35% in 2025, indicating a significant shift in the structure of air freight demand.
This evolution appears to be introducing new operational pressures. E-commerce logistics are typically associated with expectations of speed, reliability and flexibility, which can differ from traditional cargo flows.
Speakers pointed to the need for more agile processes, improved coordination and the potential development of additional logistics services, such as deconsolidation centres and the involvement of third-party logistics providers.
At the same time, the discussions suggest that this growth is not linear. Regulatory changes—such as adjustments to import frameworks—can influence volumes and introduce new uncertainties, indicating that the trajectory of e-commerce remains closely linked to policy environments.
Coordination as the real bottleneck
While infrastructure and capacity were discussed, several interventions pointed to a different type of constraint: coordination across the cargo value chain.
The panels highlighted challenges related to resource availability, regulatory processes and the fragmentation of information systems among stakeholders. In some cases, operational bottlenecks were linked not to physical limitations, but to misalignment between actors.
The discussions suggest that improving cargo performance may depend less on expanding infrastructure than on enhancing data sharing, process integration and institutional coordination. Initiatives such as pilot projects for better planning of truck arrivals or efforts to align information flows across operators indicate that solutions are being explored, although they remain at an early stage.
This emphasis on coordination points to a broader shift in priorities, where operational efficiency is increasingly linked to the ability of stakeholders to work within integrated systems.
Implications for Latin America and the Caribbean
Taken together, these discussions suggest several implications for the region.
First, cargo appears to be consolidating its role as a strategic lever for airport development, particularly in economies where exports rely on high-value or time-sensitive goods.
Second, the growth of e-commerce indicates a transformation in cargo flows, potentially creating new opportunities while also increasing operational complexity.
Finally, the recurring focus on coordination highlights structural challenges that may affect the competitiveness of airport ecosystems. Fragmentation across institutions and systems could limit the ability to fully capture the value generated by cargo activity.
Rather than pointing to a single model, the exchanges suggest that different approaches may emerge across the region, depending on local economic structures, regulatory environments and levels of institutional alignment.
Voices and perspectives from the sector
Perspectives shared by industry participants reflect these dynamics from different angles.
Airlines pointed to the impact of external factors such as fuel costs, which can represent a significant share of operating expenses, and the need to continuously adjust capacity and fleet utilisation in response to demand.
From the perspective of cargo operators, the ability to anticipate volumes and allocate resources effectively was identified as a key operational challenge, particularly in an environment where demand can fluctuate.
Airport operators, for their part, emphasized the importance of collaboration across stakeholders, including public authorities, to ensure that infrastructure, processes and regulatory frameworks evolve in a coordinated manner.
These perspectives suggest a sector where operational realities and strategic considerations are increasingly interconnected.
Reading the road ahead
The discussions in Quito do not point to a single trajectory for the future of air cargo in the region. However, they do suggest that airports are gradually moving toward more integrated and economically embedded cargo models.
As cargo continues to evolve, its role within airport ecosystems appears likely to expand, not only as a source of revenue, but as a structuring element of regional value chains.
At the same time, the extent to which this potential can be realised may depend on the ability of stakeholders to address coordination challenges and adapt to shifting market conditions.
In this context, cargo does not simply reflect broader transformations—it may also help shape them.
