Liege Airport and Viracopos International Airport are establishing a commercial partnership to attract new freighter operations between Belgium and Brazil, bringing together complementary cargo networks and specialist handling capabilities to develop trade between Europe and South America, the airports said. They are signing a memorandum of understanding at Air Cargo Forum Miami on 27 October 2026, recording their mutual interest in developing the Liege to Viracopos corridor and strengthening their positions as gateways for airlines, freight forwarders and shippers serving both continents.’

Frederic Brun, VP Sales & Marketing at Liege Airport, and Maria Fan, Chief Commercial Officer at Viracopos International Airport, are signing the agreement, with their immediate focus on identifying shared commercial prospects and establishing a framework for regular engagement between the airports’ business development teams.

“This partnership brings together two airports with a clear commitment to developing cargo business around customer needs,” said Brun. “By working with Viracopos, we can identify opportunities across Europe, Brazil and onward markets, combining our networks and specialist handling capabilities. Our priority is to build relationships with airlines and forwarders that can support sustainable route development, while giving shippers efficient connections for pharmaceuticals, technology and other valuable cargo moving between these important trading regions in both directions.”

“Viracopos is investing in the facilities and capabilities needed to support the next stage of Brazilian air cargo growth,” said Fan. “Our partnership with Liege creates an opportunity to connect that investment with a complementary European gateway. Together, we intend to engage airlines, forwarders and shippers, understand their requirements and develop practical solutions. We see particular potential in pharmaceuticals, technology and international e-commerce, where reliable handling and connectivity are essential to supporting our customers and their businesses.”

PHARMACEUTICALS, TECHNOLOGY AND E-COMMERCE

Pharmaceuticals will be a priority: Viracopos reports that the value of its pharmaceutical imports increased by 43% in 2026, and it is building a dedicated cold warehouse that will double its pharmaceutical storage capacity, while Liege contributes established pharmaceutical cargo expertise. Viracopos also accounts for 45% of Brazil’s airborne high-tech imports, with growth in digitalisation, artificial intelligence and cloud computing increasing demand for data centre equipment imports; the airport expects Brazil’s REData tax regime, which provides a five-year suspension of federal taxes on qualifying data centre equipment acquisitions, to encourage further investment. An additional dedicated e-commerce warehouse covering 20,000 square metres is already operational at Viracopos, with expanded X-ray inspection capabilities and direct apron access.

Note: No airline commitments or launch dates have been announced at this stage; the airports say progress will depend on matching demand with airline requirements. Liege is the fifth largest cargo airport in Europe, serving 53 cargo airlines and 65 logistics companies.