Special Operation at the Cargo Terminal Strengthens Manaus Supply During Drought

The Cargo Terminal at Manaus Airport (TECA) initiated a pioneering operation by receiving the first cargo flight operated by a foreign company on national territory. The operation, carried out on October 5, 2024, by the company Atlas, transported 98 tons of goods and supplies for a local industry, serving as an alternative for the distribution of imported products during the historic drought in Amazonas.

The action is the result of a strategic partnership between the Airport, the Industry Center of the State of Amazonas (CIEAM), the Manaus Industrial Pole (PIM), and airlines. The operation was validated by the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) and consisted of customs clearance of the cargo in Manaus, ensuring the tax benefits provided by the Manaus Free Trade Zone (ZFM) legislation. The measure was the result of negotiations between importers, freight forwarders, customs brokers, and airlines, aiming to offer alternatives for the transportation of imported products amid the historic drought in the state.

In addition to the drought, the operation was also driven by logistical problems in the Panama Canal, which redirected goods previously transported by river to Manaus to other ports in Brazil. The new air operation helped offset these challenges by offering a new route for product flow.

The general manager of the Cargo Terminal, Thiago Brandão, highlights:

“We are attentive to the needs of the Amazon region and, alongside equally committed partners, we work together to find solutions for this delicate moment experienced by the region. We are pleased to contribute with this alternative, which seeks to minimize the impacts caused by the drought and reinforce our commitment as drivers of business development in Western Amazon.”