Global ground-handling specialist Menzies Aviation has launched full operations at Brussels Airport after securing a seven-year licence to serve LATAM Cargo’s 15 weekly rotations linking Europe with São Paulo, Santiago and Lima. The contract, which commenced 22 December, covers ramp, cargo warehousing and truck-transfer services and marks Menzies’ first permanent foothold in Belgium.
LATAM’s cargo arm previously outsourced handling to multiple smaller providers; consolidating under Menzies is expected to streamline turn-around times by 12 %, reduce damage claims and give shippers end-to-end tracking via the handler’s “Menzies Manifest” API. Pharmaceuticals, perishables and e-commerce are core commodities on the lane, and Brussels’ CEIV-certified cool-chain facilities were pivotal in the airline’s choice.
Logistics executives traveling between Belgium and Latin America will also need to stay on top of entry requirements for Brazil, Chile and Peru. VisaHQ’s Belgium portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) offers real-time visa guidance, digital paperwork processing and secure passport courier services, helping personnel move just as smoothly as the cargo streams they supervise.
![Menzies Aviation enters Belgian ground-handling market through seven-year LATAM Cargo deal]()
Menzies will initially employ 120 staff on site, with plans to ramp up to 200 as it targets additional contracts on the South American corridor. CEO Philipp Joeinig said Brussels “fits our strategy of adding high-yield cargo gateways in politically stable markets.” The company will install electric cargo tractors and pallet dollies, supporting the airport’s pledge to hit net-zero ground-emissions by 2030.
For multinationals moving goods between Belgium and Latin America, the single-handler model promises fewer hand-offs and shorter cut-off times for late-day exports. Relocation managers should note that LATAM’s enhanced belly-hold utilisation may free up passenger seats during peak seasons, potentially improving availability for assignees flying BRU-GRU.
The move intensifies competition with WFS and Aviapartner, long-established handlers at Zaventem. Analysts expect rate pressure in the short term but predict that improved service reliability will attract more capacity from Latin-American carriers, reinforcing Brussels’ status as a continental pharma hub.
LATAM’s cargo arm previously outsourced handling to multiple smaller providers; consolidating under Menzies is expected to streamline turn-around times by 12 %, reduce damage claims and give shippers end-to-end tracking via the handler’s “Menzies Manifest” API. Pharmaceuticals, perishables and e-commerce are core commodities on the lane, and Brussels’ CEIV-certified cool-chain facilities were pivotal in the airline’s choice.
Logistics executives traveling between Belgium and Latin America will also need to stay on top of entry requirements for Brazil, Chile and Peru. VisaHQ’s Belgium portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) offers real-time visa guidance, digital paperwork processing and secure passport courier services, helping personnel move just as smoothly as the cargo streams they supervise.
Menzies will initially employ 120 staff on site, with plans to ramp up to 200 as it targets additional contracts on the South American corridor. CEO Philipp Joeinig said Brussels “fits our strategy of adding high-yield cargo gateways in politically stable markets.” The company will install electric cargo tractors and pallet dollies, supporting the airport’s pledge to hit net-zero ground-emissions by 2030.
For multinationals moving goods between Belgium and Latin America, the single-handler model promises fewer hand-offs and shorter cut-off times for late-day exports. Relocation managers should note that LATAM’s enhanced belly-hold utilisation may free up passenger seats during peak seasons, potentially improving availability for assignees flying BRU-GRU.
The move intensifies competition with WFS and Aviapartner, long-established handlers at Zaventem. Analysts expect rate pressure in the short term but predict that improved service reliability will attract more capacity from Latin-American carriers, reinforcing Brussels’ status as a continental pharma hub.
