New trade route strengthens supply security and ushers in a new era of faster, more reliable deliveries to help feed families across Honduras with sustainable, affordable chicken

CAMPINAS, Brazil – Aviagen^® Latin America has opened a new delivery route from Miami, Florida, in the United States to Palmerola XPL Comayagua International Airport in Honduras – marking the first time any poultry breeding company has shipped chicks through this airport.

The inaugural shipment, which arrived safely on Oct. 8 for Aviagen customer Avícola El Cortijo, creates a faster and more efficient connection between Aviagen’s US export hub and Honduran producers. This milestone enhances supply security for the country’s poultry sector, helping farmers provide Honduran families with affordable, nutritious chicken – a source of protein that has become a much-loved staple across Latin America.

Faster deliveries, better welfare, stronger supply

The Palmerola route offers a shorter journey and improved logistics, reducing travel time and supporting optimal chick welfare and quality. It also strengthens the resilience of the poultry supply chain by expanding import options for a growing market.

“This initiative is about more than logistics – it helps ensure that families in Honduras have access to healthy, sustainable food,” said Sheila Barcsansky, Aviagen’s Logistics Manager. “A shorter, more efficient route means faster deliveries for our customers, providing the best conditions for their chicks.”

Training to ensure chick welfare

Aviagen’s global logistics team works diligently to protect chick welfare at every stage of transport. A key part of this commitment is ensuring that everyone involved in handling the birds is well trained in their specific needs and welfare standards.

Ahead of the first flight, Barcsansky, together with Angela Pedroza, Henry Rivas and Clara Goldman, led two days of intensive training and coordination from Oct. 6–8. More than 120 participants joined, including Aviagen customers, airport management and staff, import brokers, airline teams, and representatives from the Honduran National Service for Agrifood Health and Safety (SENASA) and the International Regional Organization for Plant and Animal Health (OIRSA).

The sessions covered every step of the import process – from documentation and handling to welfare, biosecurity, and temperature control – ensuring a smooth and welfare-focused experience for future shipments.

Training concluded with a hands-on simulation at the Palmerola warehouse, where participants rehearsed the chick-arrival process from tarmac to transport. The first shipment arrived safely early Wednesday morning and was processed from aircraft to truck in just over an hour – a clear demonstration of teamwork and preparation.

ADIMEX airport management expressed enthusiasm and offered Aviagen all the necessary cooperation, welcoming the country’s first chick delivery, recognizing its importance in strengthening Honduras’s food supply and supporting local producers.

Collaboration for lasting impact

The project to establish the new trade route began in 2024 after Aviagen customers identified an opportunity to improve efficiency and reliability. Since then, Aviagen has worked closely with local producers, government agencies, and logistics partners to make the route a reality.

“This new pathway shows what can be achieved when we work hand in hand with our customers and local authorities,” said Henry Rivas, technical services manager for Aviagen in Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean. “Together, we’re helping build a stronger foundation for poultry production – and supporting social sustainability by contributing to the goal of feeding families and communities in Honduras and across Latin America.”