If you move freight between North and South America, you might want to sit down for this one.
Air Canada and Avianca-two of the biggest names in the Americas aviation market-have signed a joint business agreement that goes far beyond the usual codeshare handshake. And here's the part that actually matters for cargo shippers: unlike most passenger-airline partnerships that treat freight as an afterthought, both sides have made it clear that cargo is a core part of the conversation.
What's Actually Happening?
The agreement, signed between Air Canada and Abra Group (which controls both Avianca and GOL), is still subject to regulatory approval. But the direction is clear. The two carriers are looking to leverage their combined networks-Air Canada bringing North American and trans-Pacific reach, Avianca offering deep access into South American markets.
For Air Canada Cargo, Latin America has become an increasingly important target for its intercontinental flows across both the Pacific and Atlantic. With all the uncertainty around Canada-U.S. trade lately, other points in the Americas have become even more attractive. Avianca, meanwhile, has arguably been the more proactive of the two in pursuing airline partnerships-it already has a B777 freighter arrangement with Turkish Airlines connecting Istanbul via Liege to Miami, and it uses northbound lift on Amazon's freighters from Miami to Bogota and Quito.
The Three Hubs That Matter Most
Matthieu Casey, Air Canada Cargo's managing director of commercial, highlighted that Miami, Bogota, and San Jose are the three natural major connection points for the pair to exchange traffic. Both carriers operate passenger services as well as freighters to Miami.
For now, the partnership focuses on bellyhold cargo capacity-the space in passenger aircraft bellies. Talks about linking freighter operations are expected further down the road. But even bellyhold integration is significant: the agreement specifically mentions aligning ramp services at airports and integrating belly cargo flows.
Why This Matters for Your Supply Chain
Here's the bottom line: when two major carriers start coordinating networks, it creates ripple effects. More seamless connections between Canada, the U.S., and Latin America. Better airport coordination. Potentially faster transit times and more routing options.
But here's the thing-network alignment between airlines doesn't automatically translate into a smoother experience for cargo owners. It creates opportunities. Whether you actually benefit depends entirely on how your freight forwarder positions itself to capture those opportunities.
This Is Where Experience Pays Off
At Xiamen AE Global, we've been moving freight across the Pacific and the Americas since 2018. We're a government-licensed company with IATA, FIATA, FMC, and NVOCC credentials-which means when airline networks shift and new cargo corridors open up, we have the global relationships and the regulatory know-how to put them to work for you.
We work with over 100 overseas agents worldwide. That network gives us real-time intelligence on routing options, capacity availability, and pricing across multiple carriers-not just one or two. When Air Canada and Avianca start aligning their bellyhold capacity, we're not reading about it in the news after the fact. We're already talking to our partners on the ground in Miami, Bogota, and San Jose about how to leverage those new connections for our clients.
Real Visibility, Real Options
We've invested heavily in technology that gives our clients actual transparency into their shipments. When a new routing option opens up because two carriers have started coordinating their networks, we see it. And more importantly, we present it to you as a clear option-not as a confusing jumble of flight numbers and fine print.
Local Knowledge Where It Counts
Based in Xiamen-one of Asia's busiest port cities-we understand that what happens in the Americas doesn't stay in the Americas. When Air Canada gains better access to South American markets, that affects trade flows all the way back to Asia. When Avianca gets more avenues to link its markets with Europe and Asia, that creates new opportunities for shippers on both sides of the Pacific.
We've moved over 12,000 TEUs in a single year with a 98.6% on-time delivery rate for our SME clients. That's not luck-it's the result of relentless execution and a network that doesn't fall apart when the market changes.
The Bottom Line
Air Canada and Avianca are aligning their networks. That's a big deal for the Americas cargo market. But big deals only matter if you have a partner who knows how to turn them into actual value for your supply chain.
At Xiamen AE Global, we don't just watch the news-we act on it. Whether you're shipping airfreight or ocean freight, FCL or LCL, across the Pacific or within the Americas, we've got the relationships, the technology, and the experience to keep your cargo moving-efficiently, reliably, and on time.
Because when airlines start talking about network alignment, the real winners are the shippers who have a forwarder that's already aligned with the opportunity.
Ready to see how the Air Canada-Avianca partnership could work for your supply chain? Contact Xiamen AE Global today for a personalized logistics solution that turns industry shifts into your competitive advantage.
