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Levu Air Cargo

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Levu Air Cargo
IATA ICAO Call sign
— LVU LEVU CARGO
FoundedMay 16, 2022; 2 years ago (2022-05-16)
Commenced operationsNovember 12, 2024; 11 days ago (2024-11-12)
AOC #15,806 - November 7, 2024[1]
HubsViracopos International Airport
Secondary hubsRecife/Guararapes–Gilberto Freyre International Airport
Fleet size1
Destinations3
HeadquartersCampinas, Brazil
Key peopleDavi Sun Jae Oh (CEO)
FounderRodrigo Pacheco
Websitewww.levuaircargo.com

Levu Transporte Aéreo e Logística, known as Levu Air Cargo, is a Brazilian cargo airline headquartered in Campinas, São Paulo. The company is part of DHL Supply Chain and is responsible for the German company's logistics in the Brazilian domestic market.

History

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Establishment (2022-2024)

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Levu Air Cargo was founded in May 2022 to meet Brazil's growing air cargo transportation demand. Initially, the airline announced its intention to be headquartered in Recife, Pernambuco, using Recife/Guararapes–Gilberto Freyre International Airport as its main base of operations,[2] with a fleet of four Airbus A321-200PCF and Airbus A330-300P2F aircraft.[3] The initial investment to found the new airline was R$55 million reais (US$10.9 million).[4]

In mid-2022, the airline began its process to obtain its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) by the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil (ANAC).[5]

On April 2, 2024, Levu Air Cargo launched its official website, presenting images of aircraft with its painting scheme and the map of planned routes and destinations, including Belém, Campinas/Viracopos, Manaus, Recife and São Paulo/Guarulhos, in the domestic market, in addition to Bogotá, Colombia, Miami, United States and Paris/Châlons Vatry, France, as international destinations.[6][7]

Partnership with DHL Supply Chain

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In May 2024, DHL Supply Chain announced a strategic partnership with Levu Air Cargo to launch a domestic air freight solution in Brazil. Through the agreement, the German company invested EUR 90.5 million to, together with the airline, expand its operations in the country.[8] Thus, Levu will be responsible for the domestic air operations of DHL Express and its partners, with the planes operating in the colors of the German carrier.[9][10]

For its part, Levu announced an investment of US$103 million to incorporate four aircraft into its fleet, which will be operated for DHL in Brazil, including the first A321PCF in Latin America, leased from Latvia-based SmartLynx Airlines.[11][12][13]

On May 10, 2024, Levu received its first aircraft, the Airbus A321PCF registration PS-LVU (MSN 775), previously operated in Europe for DHL Aviation by SmartLynx. The aircraft arrived in Brazil with the colors of the new airline, in addition to the rear section and tail in yellow, with the DHL logo, reinforcing the strategic partnership between the two companies.[14][15] The airline also reserved the aeronautical registration for its second aircraft and first wide-body in the fleet, the A330-300P2F registration PR-LVU (MSN 1146), which is in the process of being converted from passenger to cargo in France.[16][17]

On May 22, 2024, Levu Air Cargo announced a strategic partnership with Aeroporto Brasil Viracopos (ABV), the concessionaire that manages Viracopos International Airport, in Campinas, choosing the airport as its main hub. On the occasion, the airline presented its ready-made facilities at the airport's Cargo Terminal (TECA).[18]

On November 7, 2024, Levu Air Cargo received its Air Operator Certificate, AOC No. 2024-11-0LVU-01-00, from ANAC, giving it the green light to begin its domestic cargo flights.[19] The Ordinance 15,806, of November 7, 2024 was published in the Diary of the Union (Diário Oficial da União, in Portuguese) on the same day.[20][21]

Start of flight operations (2024-present)

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On November 12, 2024, Levu Air Cargo carried out its first commercial flight, taking off from its main hub at Viracopos International Airport, fulfilling flight LVU9000 towards Guararapes Gilberto Freyre International Airport, in Recife.[22]

Destinations

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Levu Air Cargo operated cargo services to the following destinations in Brazil (as of November 2024):[23]

State City Airport Notes
Amazonas Manaus Eduardo Gomes International Airport Started on November 15, 2024
Pernambuco Recife Gilberto Freyre International Airport Started on November 12, 2024
São Paulo Campinas Viracopos International Airport Hub

Fleet

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Levu Air Cargo fleet consists of the following aircraft (as of November 2024):[24][25]

Levu Air Cargo Fleet
Aircraft In Service Orders Passengers Note
Airbus A321-200PCF 1 1 Cargo Operated by DHL Aviation.
Airbus A330-300P2F — 2 Cargo
Total 1 3

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "PORTARIA Nº 15.806, DE 7 DE NOVEMBRO DE 2024". Diário Oficial da União (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2024-11-07. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  2. ^ "Levu Transporte Aéreo e Logística de Cargas demonstra interesse em investir em Pernambuco". Diário de Pernambuco (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2022-10-31. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  3. ^ Ferreira, Carlos (2023-06-06). "Empresa brasileira reserva matrícula para operar um avião Airbus A330-300 no Brasil". AeroIN (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  4. ^ Ferreira, Carlos (2022-11-02). "Nova aérea brasileira promete R$ 55 milhões em investimentos e início em Pernambuco". AeroIN (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  5. ^ Ferreira, Carlos (2022-09-02). "Uma nova companhia aérea começa a nascer no Brasil com foco na carga". AeroIN (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  6. ^ Basseto, Murilo (2022-04-02). "Nova aérea brasileira Levu divulga site oficial, com imagens de aviões com sua pintura e mapa de rotas". AeroIN (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  7. ^ "Levu Air Cargo, nova cargueira brasileira, já tem duas aeronaves a serem recebidas". Aviação Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2022-04-04. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  8. ^ "With an Investment of EUR 90.5 Million, DHL Supply Chain Announces Partnership With Levu for a Domestic Air Transport Solution". DHL. 2024-05-14. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  9. ^ Favaro, Cristian (2024-05-14). "DHL cargo planes to operate in Brazil". Valor Econômico. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  10. ^ Benevides, Gabriel (2024-05-15). "With investment from DHL, LEVU Air Cargo's operational plans revealed". Aeroflap. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  11. ^ Spicuglia, Fabrizio (2024-05-23). "Smartlynx Delivers Latin America's First A321F". Airways Magazine. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  12. ^ Kulisch, Eric (2024-05-23). "DHL launches virtual cargo airline for supply chain customers in Brazil". FreightWaves. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  13. ^ Kaminski-Morrow, David (2024-05-21). "Brazil's Levu to introduce A321 converted freighter through SmartLynx". FlightGlobal. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  14. ^ "Chega ao Brasil a primeira aeronave da Levu". Flap Internacional (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2024-05-13. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  15. ^ Martinez Garbuno, Daniel (2024-05-09). "Brazil's Levu Air Cargo to dry-lease one A321F". ch-aviation. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  16. ^ Benevides, Gabriel (2023-06-06). "Brazil may win another cargo company with an unprecedented plane". Aeroflap. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  17. ^ Bassato, Murilo (2023-06-06). "Empresa brasileira reserva matrícula para operar um avião Airbus A330-300 no Brasil". AeroIN (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  18. ^ Basseto, Murilo (2024-05-22). "Já com instalações prontas, Levu Air Cargo anuncia parceria com a concessionária do Aeroporto de Viracopos". AeroIN (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  19. ^ Lee, Jeff (2024-11-08). "Levu Air Cargo receives Brazilian AOC". Cargo Facts. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  20. ^ "PORTARIA Nº 15.806, DE 7 DE NOVEMBRO DE 2024". Diário Oficial da União (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2024-11-07. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  21. ^ Ferreira, Carlos (2024-11-11). "ANAC autoriza o início das operações comerciais da mais nova companhia aérea brasileira". AeroIN (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  22. ^ Basseto, Murilo (2024-11-12). "Nova empresa aérea brasileira Levu decola pela 1ª vez após estar certificada pela ANAC". AeroIN (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  23. ^ "Schedule Flights". Levu Air Cargo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  24. ^ "Levu Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. 31 October 2024. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  25. ^ "Aviação Comercial Brasileira - Frota atual" (PDF). Aeromuseu (in Portuguese). 29 September 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
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