Manaus Airport expands international connectivity with new cargo operation linking Manaus and Lima

•  Azul Cargo's weekly flight started this Monday (10)
• Operation will be carried out with an Airbus A321 aircraft, capable of transporting up to 23 tons of cargo
• New connection strengthens the logistics of the Manaus Free Trade Zone and opens new opportunities for international trade

Manaus Airport now features, starting this Monday (10), a new international cargo operation by Azul Logística, connecting Manaus (MAO) to Lima (LIM), Peru. Operated weekly with an Airbus A321 aircraft, capable of transporting up to 23 tons of cargo, the new flight expands the airport's international connectivity and strengthens the logistics infrastructure aimed at serving the Manaus Free Trade Zone.

The new operation reinforces the strategy of the Amazon Airports Concessionaire to expand the international connectivity of Manaus Airport and establish the airport as a logistics hub for the Amazon region, offering new alternatives for import, export, and cargo distribution.

Currently, a large portion of cargo from Asia destined for the Manaus Free Trade Zone uses Los Angeles and Miami airports as the main international hubs, from where they proceed to Manaus. With the new cargo link between Manaus and Lima, a new connection alternative is now available, expanding options for international cargo transportation and reducing reliance on routes traditionally used by logistics operators.

With the third-largest cargo terminal in Brazil, responsible for handling over 120,000 tons per year, driven mainly by the Manaus Free Trade Zone and the import of raw materials for the industrial hub, the airport expands its network of international connections.

The new cargo route to Lima adds to regular international cargo operations, establishing Manaus as one of the main entry and distribution points for international cargo in the Amazon. In addition to strengthening import operations, the new flight will also allow for the transportation of export cargo, expanding logistical alternatives for companies located in the region.

From the Peruvian capital, the operation expands Manaus's access to Pacific Coast and Andean region markets, with emphasis on Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Colombia, as well as creating new connection possibilities with Asian markets. This is the first regular international cargo operation on the Lima–Manaus–Lima route, reinforcing the strategy of diversifying the airport's international routes.

The CEO of the Amazon Airports Concessionaire, Kleyton Mendes, highlights: "More than just a new route, this operation opens the possibility of developing a new multimodal logistics corridor between Asia, Peru, and Brazil. It is an alternative that complements the traditional supply model of the Manaus Free Trade Zone and enhances logistical flexibility for the industry located in the region," he says.

Operation Opportunities

From this new connectivity, different operation possibilities arise. One of them is the Sea-Air model, where goods from Asia arrive by sea at the Port of Chancay, Peru, proceed to Lima, and from there, are shipped by air to Manaus. This solution combines more competitive costs than fully air transport with significantly shorter transit times than the exclusively maritime route, becoming an alternative for cargo that requires greater agility without sacrificing logistical efficiency.

Another possibility is the Air-Air model, using Lima as a new air gateway for high-value, urgent, or industrially critical cargo from major Asian logistics centers. The new route expands connection alternatives for goods destined for the Manaus Free Trade Zone and creates conditions for the development of new international cargo flows.