QuantumSouth and LATAM Cargo Launch Predictive Load Balancing Pilot Using Quantum Optimization

In a pivotal move toward high-efficiency air cargo logistics, QuantumSouth, a Montevideo-based quantum computing startup, has partnered with LATAM Cargo, the cargo division of Latin America’s largest airline group, to pilot a new system for predictive aircraft load balancing. The project marks one of the first real-world deployments of quantum computing in Latin American air freight operations, aiming to improve aircraft utilization, reduce schedule disruptions, and enhance fuel economy through quantum-enhanced simulation.

The system, currently in early-stage deployment, utilizes quantum algorithms to forecast and dynamically redistribute cargo loads across LATAM Cargo’s South American air fleet. The pilot project is designed to reduce inefficiencies stemming from poor weight distribution, last-minute over- or under-loading, and unoptimized cargo configurations. Early simulations suggest a promising reduction in both fuel consumption and cargo misallocation, with a projected 2–5% improvement in payload optimization metrics.

Supported by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)’s innovation fund, this initiative is among the first attempts to integrate cloud-based hybrid quantum computing into the daily operational fabric of Latin American aviation logistics.

The Need for Predictive Load Balancing in Air Cargo

Air cargo remains a backbone of global and regional trade in Latin America, particularly for high-value, time-sensitive goods like pharmaceuticals, perishables, and electronics. However, aircraft weight distribution is an ongoing operational challenge. Poorly balanced or inefficiently loaded aircraft not only compromise flight safety and stability but also cause unnecessary fuel burn, missed delivery windows, and higher carbon emissions.

Traditional load planning relies on deterministic models and manual rule sets, which may not scale well with dynamic cargo flows, variable route plans, and mixed aircraft types. Factors such as:

• Shipment volume vs. mass density

• Cargo urgency and destination

• Aircraft-specific center-of-gravity constraints

• Airport turnaround windows and fueling times

...must all be balanced in real time to ensure both efficiency and compliance with aviation standards.

QuantumSouth’s quantum optimization solution aims to overcome the computational bottlenecks of such multi-variable optimization problems using hybrid quantum algorithms running on AWS Braket with backend processing on Rigetti’s superconducting QPUs.

How the Quantum Pilot Works

The pilot architecture involves three integrated components:

1. Cargo Flow Prediction Engine:
   A machine learning model ingests shipment manifests, historical load patterns, airport infrastructure limitations, and customer urgency metrics. It forecasts the daily and weekly cargo flow scenarios for LATAM’s routes across major South American hubs, including São Paulo, Bogotá, Lima, Santiago, and Montevideo.

2. Quantum Optimization Layer:
   QuantumSouth’s algorithm encodes constraints such as:

• Cargo density and mass-to-volume ratios

• Aircraft-specific weight and balance envelopes

• Turnaround time restrictions

• Delivery deadlines and cross-docking dependencies

1. These constraints are processed using quantum-enhanced combinatorial solvers, specifically tuned to run on Rigetti’s Aspen-M QPU, via AWS Braket’s managed quantum services. The hybrid solver allocates cargo units across aircraft in a way that minimizes total weight imbalance, fuel impact, and idle capacity.

2. Dashboard & Integration Layer:
   QuantumSouth has developed a logistics control dashboard that interfaces with LATAM Cargo’s existing fleet management and cargo planning software. The dashboard includes:

• Route-specific cargo utilization scores

• Recommended cargo swaps or reroutes

• Load sensitivity analysis by aircraft type (e.g., Boeing 767F, 777F)

“This is not just a research exercise,” said Ignacio Berta, CTO of QuantumSouth. “We are solving a concrete, high-cost problem in real-world aviation logistics using quantum power that’s available today through cloud platforms.”

Operational Impact: Aiming for Cost, Safety, and Sustainability Gains

LATAM Cargo is optimistic about the potential value the pilot could unlock. According to internal estimates, even modest improvements in aircraft load distribution could yield:

• 2–3% savings in fuel costs per regional flight

• Reduction in last-minute reassignments, which currently impact punctuality metrics

• Enhanced safety margins by improving aircraft balance compliance

• Better adherence to on-time delivery performance, especially on multi-stop legs

More importantly, the quantum system allows the airline to simulate various cargo allocation scenarios days in advance, enabling proactive adjustments rather than reactive last-minute changes. This is particularly valuable in hub-and-spoke operations, where ripple effects from one unbalanced load can propagate across multiple flights and customer SLAs.

“We are testing how quantum computing can help us make smarter decisions about cargo allocation—not just to maximize revenue but to do so safely, sustainably, and reliably,” said Andrés Bianchi, CEO of LATAM Cargo.

From Academia to Industry: A Quantum Milestone in Latin America

QuantumSouth, founded in 2020 by researchers from Universidad de Montevideo and Universidad ORT Uruguay, has been developing use cases for logistics and aerospace optimization using near-term quantum devices. While previous work focused on theoretical models and academic collaborations, this partnership with LATAM Cargo marks the company’s first major commercial pilot.

The pilot also symbolizes a broader regional shift in how emerging technologies are being adopted. With support from the IDB Lab, the project demonstrates that Latin America is no longer waiting on tech trickle-downs from Europe or North America—it’s now co-creating frontier innovations within the region.

“This project validates Latin America’s role in shaping quantum logistics,” said Carolina Piña, innovation advisor at the IDB. “It shows we can leapfrog into advanced technologies without waiting for quantum supremacy.”

Technology Stack and Execution

Key technical details of the pilot include:

• Platform: AWS Braket (Amazon’s quantum computing service)

• Quantum Processor: Rigetti Aspen-M (superconducting QPU)

• Classical-Quantum Hybrid Solver: Custom-developed variational algorithms for constrained bin-packing

• Integration: Python APIs linked to LATAM Cargo’s cargo loading systems and route planning tools

• Security & Compliance: Data encrypted at rest and in transit; compliant with aviation data privacy norms

• Latency: Solution delivers optimized cargo configurations within under 4 minutes per simulation cycle, suitable for daily operational use

While full real-time responsiveness remains a longer-term goal, the current pilot’s latency is more than sufficient for nightly batch planning and rolling 24-hour adjustment cycles.

Outlook: What’s Next for Quantum Cargo Planning

Following initial trials through Q1 and Q2 2024, LATAM Cargo and QuantumSouth will evaluate several scaling paths:

• Extension to Wide-Body International Routes: Including cargo-heavy lanes like Miami–Lima and Santiago–Madrid

• Multi-leg Planning Optimization: Simulating multi-hop cargo journeys with intermediate reallocation

• Integration With Fuel Optimization Algorithms: Merging cargo balancing with routing strategies for synergistic savings

• AI-Augmented Quantum Feedback Loops: Using classical ML to pre-train and fine-tune quantum solvers based on performance metrics

QuantumSouth is also in exploratory talks with Brazilian and Mexican logistics players, including regional freight forwarders and cold-chain shippers, about adapting the platform for road freight container packing and pallet optimization—further expanding the relevance of the system across the supply chain.

Conclusion: A Strategic Leap for Latin American Logistics

The QuantumSouth–LATAM Cargo partnership is more than a tech pilot—it’s a strategic leap forward for Latin American aviation and logistics. By embedding quantum computing into the heart of daily air cargo operations, the project sets a precedent for data-driven, high-efficiency logistics tailored to the unique demands of emerging markets.

From optimizing fuel use and enhancing aircraft safety to improving customer service and carbon metrics, the pilot exemplifies how cutting-edge technology can directly serve real-world operations. Moreover, it positions Latin America as a regional innovation hub capable of exporting logistics solutions as much as importing them.

As global supply chains grow more complex and carbon-conscious, initiatives like this one underscore a new reality: the future of cargo optimization isn’t just smart—it’s quantum.