When Horses Fly …

LATAM Cargo, the freight-carrying division of Chilean air-carrier LATAM Airlines Group S.A, will presently transport a total of 196 horses slated to compete in equine events part and parcel of the upcoming 2023 Pan America Games.

The steeds will travel aboard a Boeing 767 freighter by which they’ll be borne from their home pastures and paddocks in Chile to destinations in the United States, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico, and Paraguay. After three-weeks of flying, galloping, cantering, jumping and side-passing across two continents, the horses will return to Chile, hopefully bearing victory’s garlands.

LATAM formerly transported 91 horses to Chile, where they participated in Pan America Games events. Upon the games’ conclusion, the airline will convey 105 mounts back to their countries of origin.

LATAM senior cargo operations manager for Chile Juan Pablo Márquez set forth: “For us, it is an honor to be part of this major sporting event that is Santiago 2023, and for equestrian federations to choose us as their trusted option for transporting the horses they will use in the competitions. It is a recognition of our extensive experience in this type of transportation, our logistics, and the specialized personnel that allow us to provide top-level handling to ensure the well-being of these animals. We will continue working to deliver a service with the highest quality standards for our customers”

Planning for the flights began three-months prior to the first horse’s stepping hoof aboard the LATAM 767 freighter. LATAM’s operations division busied itself with vetting routes, constructing onboard stabling, seeing to the transport of tack, feed, water, grooms, veterinary equipment and personnel, and compiling the reams of paperwork evincing the operation’s compliance with rigorous criteria set down by no fewer than nine aviation regulatory bodies and innumerable peripheral governmental agencies.

The horses will be attended to throughout the flight by qualified personnel who’ll ensure the animals are kept sufficiently topped off with quality feed, clean water, company, reassurance, and mental stimulation throughout the journey.

Broadly considered the largest airline holding company in the Latin American region, LATAM Group is the official airline of the 2023 Pan American and Parapan American Games. Notwithstanding its Santiago, Chile headquarters and Brazilian, Colombian, Ecuadorian, Paraguayan, and Peruvian subsidiaries, LATAM is an American depositary receipt and traded on the unregulated OTC Markets.

FMI: www.latamairlines.com/us/en