With a focus on charter flights, medevac, cargo transportation and helicopter flights, Aerocardal has sought to carve out a nice over its 35 years of experience within the industry. Most recently, the company has increasingly concentrated on expanding its cargo services. While the airline does not handle all types of cargo, it is equipped to manage a variety of specialised shipments using its fleet of executive aircraft.

“Aerocardal is uniquely positioned in Chile’s aviation market. We are the only executive operator in the country certified to handle cargo flights, unlike other private aviation companies that lack the necessary approvals. Commercial airlines, on the other hand, cannot mix cargo with passengers, leaving us in a position to meet urgent needs,” Ricardo Real, CEO of Aerocardal, stated.

Aerocardal’s fleet is specifically tailored for different operations, including cargo-only, medevac-only, and executive flights. This is especially beneficial in Chile, a leading mining country, where the airline frequently transports materials such as detonators, medical samples, and pharmaceutical products—cargo that exceeds the capabilities of commercial airlines.

“Flexibility is one of our biggest strengths at Aerocardal, and it plays a crucial role in our cargo operations. Since we are both a medical and cargo operator, we can dispatch a cargo flight in under two hours,” Real expressed. “Our aircraft are always ready, and we can switch between different configurations—executive, medevac, and cargo—in just 45 minutes. Having operated these aircraft for years, we know them inside out, allowing us to make these conversions quickly and efficiently.”

Additionally, the demand for transporting lithium-related goods is on the rise, with Chile being one of the world’s top producers of lithium, leading the company to prepare for stricter regulations surrounding the transport of lithium batteries and related products, positioning itself to meet the growing demand for these specialised services.

“Our pilots undergo extensive training. Our ground staff and operations team also conduct detailed analyses to assess potential risks, particularly when transporting dangerous goods, ensuring we comply with all safety regulations,” he continued.

Strong location

Chile’s central geography makes Santiago the ideal base for operations, with a fleet of 11 aircraft, including both helicopters and planes, allowing it to efficiently manage resources —pilots, aircraft, ground crew, and equipment — all from a single location.

“I spent 19 years at LATAM, working in both passenger and cargo divisions. During that time, I lived in Spain for six years, overseeing LATAM’s European operations, including major hubs like Frankfurt and Paris,” Real stated. “When I transitioned to Aerocardal 14 years ago, I immediately saw a gap in the Chilean market—no one was focusing on specialised cargo, particularly dangerous goods and time-sensitive deliveries.

“Chile had only one dedicated cargo aircraft—a 737—which operated on a fixed schedule, flying north one day and south the next. Recognising this, we saw an opportunity: no one was offering fast, flexible services for urgent deliveries, such as aircraft parts, engines, or high-value goods.”

This became even more evident during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when commercial airlines stopped transporting medical samples. Because Aerocardal was classified as an essential service provider due to its medevac operations, the company was one of the only companies authorised to transport sensitive medical shipments like blood samples.

“The results speak for themselves. Five years ago, our cargo business accounted for just 1 percent of our revenue. Today, it represents 18 percent and continues to grow at an annual rate of 8–12 percent,” Real continued. “While it’s not yet our primary business line, it has become a strong, independent revenue stream alongside our executive, medevac, and helicopter services. Additionally, as the only operator providing this service in Santiago, we have built strong market recognition. When businesses need fast, reliable cargo transport, they turn to us first.”

Fleet potential

One of the key strategic reasons for Aerocardal’s positioning is aircraft availability. For example, if Aerocardal sends a cargo flight to Punta Arenas, a three-hour journey each way, that aircraft is essentially tied up for the day.

“If one aircraft is engaged in a long-haul flight, we can still accommodate executive and medevac flights by utilising other aircraft in our fleet or renting additional capacity when needed. This operational stability is essential, especially since we hold contracts across different sectors that require immediate availability,” Real said.

While expanding further into South America is always an option, for now, the company’s focus remains on Chile, where the demand for specialised cargo is growing rapidly. The mining industry, particularly lithium extraction, is, as mentioned, experiencing significant growth, driving increased demand for cargo transport. Additionally, in Southern Chile, energy projects—such as wind farms and helium-related operations—are fuelling further cargo needs.

“We assess opportunities abroad, considering the challenges. In Argentina, for instance, flight permissions can be obtained within two hours, making it an attractive market,” Real outlined. “In Peru, securing overflight and landing permissions takes up to 48 hours, creating hurdles.

“As a result, we currently concentrate on routes where operational ease allows for faster and more efficient service. At present, approximately 85 percent of our cargo flights take place within Chile, as this remains our strongest and most reliable market.”

Upward trend

In this market, there is steady growth. While it doesn’t expand at the same rate as the passenger or commercial aviation sectors, it has been consistently increasing every year.

By the second half of this year, the industry expects significant movement in the lithium sector. Alongside that, the transportation of chemicals for mining operations is also becoming increasingly important. These materials are essential for various processes in the field, and when urgent testing or specialised handling is required, someone has to move them, often by air.

“Many companies do not meet IATA or ICAO standards when it comes to packaging their goods, particularly in industries that are new to air cargo,” Real highlighted. “We’ve been actively working with these companies to improve their packaging practices.

“Some believe that adding excessive layers of wrapping makes their shipments more secure, but in reality, proper packaging techniques allow for better efficiency, enabling us to transport more cargo at a lower cost to the customer. Addressing these issues presents an opportunity to streamline operations and make air cargo a more viable option for certain industries.

“We are not looking to compete with traditional courier services for small package deliveries. Instead, our goal is to be the go-to operator for transporting high-value, time-sensitive, and safety-critical cargo. Our marketing and sales efforts emphasise this differentiation, ensuring that when businesses need secure, fast, and specialised cargo solutions, they think of us first.”