Mercado Libre has expanded its logistics network in Argentina through a new air cargo operation to Patagonia, developed in partnership with Aerolíneas Argentinas and industrial group Mirgor. The initiative aims to reduce delivery times in some of the country’s most remote southern cities, an area traditionally dependent on slower ground transport.
The service targets Ushuaia, Bariloche, Neuquén and Trelew, where users will be able to receive marketplace orders in up to 48 hours, according to information released by the companies. The operation is structured around five weekly cargo frequencies and is expected to move between 15,000 and 16,000 parcels per day on these routes.
A pilot phase includes weekday cargo flights from Buenos Aires’ Ezeiza International Airport to Neuquén and Trelew, using Boeing 737-800BCF aircraft operated by Aerolíneas Argentinas Cargo. The trial, scheduled to run for three months, will allow the partners to evaluate operational performance, identify bottlenecks and determine the feasibility of a permanent air corridor.
In addition to the dedicated freighter operation, Mercado Libre is also using bellyhold capacity on Aerolíneas Argentinas’ commercial flights to accelerate deliveries to Ushuaia and Bariloche. With this move, Argentina becomes the company’s fifth Latin American market with integrated air transport and the third, after Brazil and Mexico, with exclusive cargo flights in its logistics network.