Avianca Cargo delivers over 150 tons of earthquake aid to Colombia in two days
Avianca Cargo transported an additional 60 tons of humanitarian aid from Miami to Cali, Colombia, on August 14, 2026. The delivery brings the total volume of aid the airline has moved since the earthquake struck to more than 150 tons over just two days. Of the latest shipment, nine tons were coordinated by the Government of Colombia, while the remaining 51 tons were donated by the Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) to support communities most in need. The cargo included electric generators and essential supply kits containing hygiene products and nonperishable food, all transported aboard an A330F freighter aircraft capable of carrying large volumes of relief supplies. Avianca draws on cargo and passenger networks for relief push The Miami-to-Cali flight builds on Avianca's response since the earthquake first struck, with the airline drawing on both its cargo operations and passenger network to move aid into the region. The shipment will be received in Cali and distributed based on the needs of affected communities. La respuesta a una emergencia requiere la articulación y el trabajo conjunto de diferentes organizaciones. Gracias por sumarte a apoyar a las comunidades afectadas. Hacerlo de manera organizada nos permite llevar la ayuda donde más se necesita. Si ya reuniste donaciones y… pic.twitter.com/ZGfOZFdqcW — avianca (@avianca) August 14, 2026 Diogo Elias, CEO of Avianca Cargo, said the airline's operations carry a purpose beyond simply connecting destinations, emphasizing the goal of getting aid to the communities that need it most. He thanked the Government of Colombia and GEM for trusting Avianca's logistics capabilities as part of the joint relief effort. Michael Capponi, Founder and President of GEM, said humanitarian response ultimately comes down to speed and efficiency, getting the right aid into the hands of families as quickly as possible. He credited the partnership with Avianca Cargo, the City of Doral, and on-the-ground partners for allowing GEM to move critical supplies directly from Miami into its distribution network in Colombia, adding that the organization remains committed to supporting the country through the long recovery ahead. Avianca said it will continue supporting relief efforts as Colombia works to recover from the disaster. Colombia's deadliest quake in a century sparks the relief effort The relief effort follows a magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck western Colombia on August 10, 2026, the strongest to hit the country in a century. The quake killed more than 200 people, injured over 2,500, and left hundreds more missing, with cities including Cali, Pereira, Manizales, and Quibdo among the hardest hit. Colombia's government declared three days of national mourning, and President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office just days before the disaster, declared a state of emergency as rescue crews continued searching for survivors. RELATED Avianca opens temporary Bogota-Valencia service in response to Venezuela quake