Seven new weekly freighter frequencies have lifted Emirates SkyCargo's South American export volumes into double-digit growth across all four markets the carrier serves, with Argentina posting a 57% year-on-year jump in the first half of FY26/27.

On the tarmac in Quito, where the carrier now runs a sixth weekly freighter after adding the flight in May 2026, refrigerated pallets of Ecuadorian roses move toward Amsterdam and the world's largest flower auction at Aalsmeer. Ecuador alone accounted for nearly 60,000 tonnes of Emirates SkyCargo exports since April 2024, with flowers making up more than 90% of that uplift.

The new frequencies, rolled out since March 2026, include three to Buenos Aires, two to São Paulo, and one each to Bogotá and Quito. For shippers in the region, the expansion translates into 600 tonnes of weekly export capacity from Quito alone.

How fast is demand growing?

Argentina recorded the steepest surge, with export volumes up 57% in the first half of FY26/27 against the prior-year period. Brazil followed at 22%, Colombia at 18%, and Ecuador at 14%.

Since April 2024, Emirates SkyCargo has moved close to 80,000 tonnes of perishables from South America, including 66,000 tonnes of fresh flowers. The carrier's divisional senior vice president, Badr Abbas, framed the growth in terms of market access for producers.

"South America is a dynamic emerging hub for exports across a range of sectors including high-quality food products and fresh flowers that rely on fast and reliable air cargo connectivity to reach global customers," Abbas said. He added that the carrier had moved more than 22,000 tonnes of South American export cargo since April, an 18% increase over the same window a year earlier.

What does the Quito expansion change for Ecuadorian shippers?

The sixth Quito freighter, introduced in May 2026, gives Ecuadorian growers a direct pipeline to Amsterdam and onward distribution across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The carrier transported nearly 24,000 tonnes of flowers from Ecuador in FY25/26 alone, building on an 11% volume gain the year before.

Ecuador's 14% growth in H1 FY26/27 is the slowest among the four markets but still adds pressure on a network already running near full utilisation. Emirates SkyCargo will showcase the operation at Expo Flor Ecuador, scheduled for October 6–8, 2026.

Where else is capacity being added?

Bogotá received its first dedicated freighter in May 2026, supporting the 18% year-on-year export growth that followed 34% growth the prior year. The carrier has moved nearly 14,000 tonnes of Colombian exports since April 2024, including more than 3,500 tonnes of flowers in FY25/26.

Buenos Aires saw the steepest ramp. Weekly service began in March 2026 and tripled to three weekly flights by July. Of the roughly 5,000 tonnes of Argentine exports the carrier has handled since April 2024, perishables such as fresh fruit, salmon, and meat dominate the manifest.

How does Brazil fit into the network?

São Paulo now anchors four weekly freighters, with the two added in 2026 lifting Brazilian exports 22% year-on-year in H1 FY26/27. The carrier has moved close to 20,000 tonnes from Brazil since April 2024, a broader commodity mix reaching customers across the Emirates network.

What does this mean for shippers and forwarders?

The capacity injection lands as European flower auctions and Gulf fresh-produce importers look for redundancy beyond traditional Latin American gateways. For forwarders, the new frequencies translate to more options on the Amsterdam-bound corridor from Quito, Bogotá, and São Paulo, and to tighter cold-chain reliability on perishables moving into Dubai.

Watch for further frequency additions in 2027 as Emirates SkyCargo converts bellyhold gains from any new passenger schedule into stated freighter capacity, and as Expo Flor Ecuador reveals whether the 600-tonne Quito ceiling will be raised before the next peak season.