IATA Expands Cargo Operations in Latin America

IATA Cargo Services Grow Across Brazil, Mexico and Paraguay

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is expanding its cargo service offerings across Latin America, with new developments in Mexico, Paraguay and Brazil aimed at supporting the region’s growing air cargo sector.

According to IATA, cargo tonne kilometres transported by airlines based in Latin America increased by an average of 3.3 per cent annually between 2016 and April 2026, resulting in cumulative growth of 38.8 per cent over the decade.

Mexico

IATA launched CASS Domestic operations in Mexico in April 2026, building on its existing CASS Export service, which has been operating in the country since 1987.

Mexico will also become the second country, after the United States, to introduce IATA FlexiPay, a payment solution designed to support real-time billing, secure prepayments, and flexible payment arrangements among airlines, cargo agents, and freight forwarders.

Mexico remains an important air cargo market in the region. During 2025, more than 125,000 tonnes of domestic air cargo were transported within the country, accounting for 15.8 per cent of total air cargo traffic. In the first quarter of 2026, several domestic routes recorded growth, including Monterrey–Mexico City, Tijuana–Guadalajara and Mexico City–Hermosillo.

Paraguay

IATA plans to launch CASS Export operations in Paraguay during the final quarter of 2026.

Although Paraguay represents a smaller cargo market within Latin America, air freight volumes have increased significantly. In 2025, the country handled more than 42,000 tonnes of air cargo, representing a year-on-year growth of 225.3 per cent.

Brazil

In Brazil, IATA is preparing to introduce CASS Domestic from early 2027. The expansion follows more than two decades of CASS Export operations in the country.

Airlines serving Brazil transported more than 791,000 tonnes of air cargo during 2025, with domestic cargo accounting for 7.9 per cent of the total volume. Air freight also played an important role in Brazilian exports, representing 5.9 per cent of export value despite accounting for only 0.3 per cent of export weight.

Juan Antonio Rodríguez, IATA’s Executive Director for Financial Services, BSP and CASS, said the association has supported airlines in Latin America through payment and settlement systems for many years. He noted that the latest developments reflect growing industry demand for efficient settlement solutions in both domestic and export cargo markets.

The planned expansion is expected to strengthen cargo processing, payment systems and operational efficiency across key markets in the region.

For more travel and tourism content, follow Safari India.