LATAM Airlines Group has confirmed it will conclude B777-F operations later this year. At present, LATAM Cargo Chile (UC, Santiago de Chile) is the only LATAM unit to operate the type with one - N776LA (msn 38091) - still on its books. Two previous airframes were returned to GECAS earlier this year.

However, in its latest half-year filing, the South American carrier conglomerate said the B777-F aircraft would be phased out by the end of 2017 leaving LATAM Cargo Chile with a fleet of one B767-300F. The move has been precipitated by continued declines in cargo revenue which dropped 4.6% from USD536 million in 1H16, to USD510 million in 1H17.

With the onset of 2018, LATAM Group's cargo fleet will consist of just eight B767-300(F)s spread across LATAM Cargo Chile (one), LATAM Cargo Brasil (two), LATAM Cargo Colombia (one), LATAM Cargo Mexico (one), with two on lease to FedEx Express (FX, Memphis International). Additional focus will be placed on maximizing the use of bellyhold capacity on its mainline fleet of passenger jets.