While most people’s experiences with aviation are limited to passenger flights, a significant portion of all airlines taking off into the skies also move goods around the world.
Cargo is transported by both commercial airlines in the belly of passenger planes and dedicated freighter carriers. The largest cargo airlines in the world by total freight tons flown are FedEx Express (FDX) and UPS Airlines (UPS) .
Passenger carriers will operate separate cargo divisions — Qatar Airways, Emirates SkyCargo, and Korean Air Cargo are the three largest by total flights and weight of goods carried.
Colombian flagship carrier Avianca AVHOQ has operated its Avianca Cargo branch since the 1970s for the transportation of everything from food, pharmaceuticals, and medical supplies within Latin America to trade goods exported into the United States through Miami International Airport.
The airline is especially associated with transportation of fresh flower deliveries to purchasers across North America for holidays such as Valentine’s and Mother’s Day.
New Avianca Cargo brand to connect to 350 destinations across Mexico and the U.S.
Previously also operating in Mexico as AeroUnion, the company rebranded as Avianca Cargo Mexico as part of its wider efforts to gain a greater foothold in the country.
The airline has a fleet of two Airbus A330 P2F aircraft that were converted from passenger to freighter, and delivery of the second was completed in June 2025.
Alongside the six A330F planes owned by Avianca Cargo, those planes will be used to grow its network transporting goods from South America to Mexico and further north into the United States to 350 total destinations.
Related: American Airlines is betting big on Mexico travel
According to both Avianca and International Air Transportation Association (IATA) officials, Mexico was specifically chosen for its ability to serve as a cargo hub connecting South America to farther north and more distant parts of the world.
The geography of the country places it in a perfect location to transport items from South American countries such as Chile, Argentina, and Brazil to both North America and other destinations across Asia and Europe.
Image source: Shutterstock
“Mexico moved more than 374,000 tons of air cargo”: IATA
“We recognize the importance of the presence of air cargo airlines such as Avianca Cargo Mexico, which are fundamental to the development of this sector in our country,” Cinthya Martínez, IATA country manager for Mexico, said in a statement.
“In the first half of 2025, Mexico moved more than 374,000 tons of air cargo, reflecting a 5.9% growth compared to the same period last year.”
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While much of the momentum around Mexico’s trade and transportation of goods into the U.S. is currently up in the air due to the Trump administration’s tariffs, the country has explored different ways to grow the freight sector of its economy after the ban of cargo planes from Mexico City’s Benito Juarez airport (MEX) in 2023.
The airports in the northeastern city of Monterrey and the Western technology hub of Guadalajara have both recently been tapped for development as centers for cargo transportation.
Avianca Cargo CEO Diogo Elias similarly framed the expansion as a “decisive step to strengthen our joint offering of connectivity, capacity, and service.”
Related: White House puts new limits on flights from Mexico
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