'The airport at Latacunga, just 120 kilometers outside Quito, is an ideal base for the flowers,' states Niek van der Weide, Executive VP Sales and Marketing. 'We have set up our own cooler shed on the airport which is really helping to keep the flowers fresh for shipment to the Amsterdam market as well as to Russia. We also have the flexibility to make intermediate stops within this route structure. Last week for example we did a special delivery to Asuncion in Paraguay. Although there is a fair amount of competition on these Latin American routes, we are able to reasonable market rates and despite the spiralling fuel costs, it's a very interesting market for us, in addition to our African flights.
March 21st a 3rd flight was added operating to via Sao Paulo, Latacunga and Bogota. This means the opening up of Colombia both as an important source for flowers to Europe but also for mixed cargo into Colombia. In due course, Cargo B will also look at other markets and destinations such as the Middle East, North America and Mexico. Brussels clearly is an ideal operational cargo hub for both import and export, with efficient road and rail connections as well as a global cargo flight network.'
