{
  "id": 19161966,
  "title": "Latam Airlines dusts off Covid playbook to move cargo in passenger cabin",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/latam-airlines-dusts-off-covid-playbook-to-move-cargo-in-passenger",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-11-09T14:15:25.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "FreightWaves",
    "slug": "freightwaves",
    "url": "https://www.freightwaves.com/news/latam-airlines-dusts-off-covid-playbook-to-move-cargo-in-passenger-cabin"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Latam Airlines has reintroduced a preighter service - the practice of using passenger aircraft to transport cargo - for the first time in four and a half years. The South American carrier utilized an Airbus A319 to deliver emergency aid from Quito, Ecuador, to the Galapagos Islands, which were recently hit by flooding following heavy rains. The cargo, consisting of food, water, and hygiene kits, was stored in passenger seats and the lower deck, effectively doubling the maximum cargo payload. The relief flight was donated by Latam to the Chamber of Industries and Production and Grupo Entregas, responding to the request for assistance by the affected communities. This unique method was necessary due to Baltra Airport's insufficient runway to accommodate large cargo jets.",
  "summary": "In an unusual move, Latam Airlines deployed a passenger jet for an all-cargo mission. The post Latam Airlines dusts off Covid playbook to move cargo in passenger cabin appeared first on FreightWaves .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}