About Avianca Cargo Airline, Mexico

Learn about Avianca Cargo Airline, Mexico, through this blog and allow your cargo-based import-export business to thrive. AeroUnion Airline Mexico is officially renamed to Avianca Cargo Airline. Initially established in March 1998, the carrier operation began in July 2001. The chief idea behind its establishment was to have efficient freight service between the United States and Mexico. Over time, it retired its old Airbus A300s and Boeing 767s and currently has two Airbus A330-300 P2F freighters. Under the plan for expansion and growth, it has two more on-order aircraft, thereby boosting capacity by almost 60%. Moreover, the strategic partnership with Avianca Cargo, Aerounion has improved its quality of services and broadened its reach. It offers reliable and high-capacity cargo solutions across key trade routes, with daily freighters to the U.S, Latin America, etc.

Corporate evolution and origin of Avianca Cargo Mexico

It was established in 1999 under the name AeroUnion. Initially, its journey began as a domestic Mexican cargo brand with a base in Mexico City’s Juárez International Airport (MEX). By 2001-2006, it widened its reach by entering the US market after getting approval from the DOT and the Federal Aviation Administration. Hence, it launched a scheduled cargo flight for the Mexico route. In March 2014, Avianca Holidings’ cargo unit, then called Tampa Cargo, took a non-voting stake in AeroUnion as part of a Latin American Cargo alignment strategy. However, on June 24, 2025, Avianca restructured Aerounion into Avianca Cargo Mexico, marking its merger into Avianca’s global cargo portfolio. This move aims to attract higher standards and expand network capabilities, while also preserving corporate independence, safety permits, Mexican control, and the existing labor structure.

Infrastructure & Hubs

Avianca Cargo Airlines Mexico owns a robust cargo infrastructure based in two primary hubs. Bogota’s El Dorado International Airport and Mexico City’s Felipe Ángeles International Airport are its two leading hubs. Furthermore, it mainly operates in Miami and Los Angeles. Its core fleet encompasses wide-body freighters such as 6 Airbus A330‑200Fs in Bogotá, whereas its phased passenger-to-freighter A330P2Fs in Mexico are operated by AeroUnion. Its first A33P2F started operating from the mid of 2024, thereby increasing its capacity by almost 60%. To widen its reach and serve more routes, Avianca Cargo Mexico added a second A330P2F to its fleet, increasing its capacity to handle temperature-sensitive and oversized cargo operations.

The ground infrastructure of Avianca Cargo involves CEIV-certified cold-chain facilities covering Pharma, Fresh, Live Animals, and Lithium Batteries across all hubs. Moreover, the company has made substantial investments in ramp services, depalleting systems, and re-icing, while also incorporating digital platforms to ensure authentic and reliable handling.Avianca Cargo Airlines possesses-

A network of over 68 destinations,
220+ freighter flights weekly plus belly‑cargo on >1,800 passenger flights,
Leadership in Latin American cargo logistics

Fleet composition of Avianca

The current fleet involves 2x Airbus A330-300 P2F with 60-ton payload capacity. Whereas Airbus A300B4-200(F), A300-600CF, Boeing 767-200BCF (phased out by 2024). Moreover, it is aligned with the cargo fleet of six A330Fs in Latin America, marking a rise to four P2Fs in Mexico.

Network & Routes

Destinations: 12, including Mexico, Costa Rica, the US, Guatemala, and Colombia.
Key Mexican points: Guadalajara, Mexico City, Mérida, Tijuana.
US service points: LAX, Miami, Chicago, New York via Avianca interline.

Avianca Cargo extends connectivity to South America, Asia, and Europe through interline agreements to over 350 destinations.

Accolades & Quality Standards

Avianca Cargo enjoys a strong reputation in the air cargo world with its high international standards. First of all, it led in the region of the Americas, having procured four leading IATA CEIV certifications. They are-

CEIV Pharma – for safeguarded and authentic transport of medicines and health products.
CEIV Fresh – for handling of perishable goods like fruits, vegetables, and flowers,
CEIV Live Animals – for the proper and humane handling of live animals, and
CEIV Lithium Batteries – for the safe transportation of potentially dangerous battery cargo.

As a result, Avianca Cargo is identified for its meticulous and professional handling of distinct types of cargo. In addition, Avianca Cargo became Cargo iQ certified in December 2024, indicating that the airline adheres to strict quality control planning and delivering shipments. Additionally, it demonstrates its commitment to timely delivery, streamlined operations, and reliable tracking from end to end. The airline, which was earlier called AeroUnion, is internationally recognised for its contributions in the realm of sustainability. It is counted among the top 6 airlines in the world and has bagged the ESG Award from Air Cargo News. ESG stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance. In conclusion, these certifications and accolades signify Avianca’s commitment to excellence, safety, and sustainability in all areas of its cargo operations.

Challenges

Despite serving for decades, its operations and expansion plans pose challenges that are hindering its growth to the planned capacity. Below are some of the significant challenges that the management team has to tackle to pursue its motive-

Further Investment in Fleet transition: Switch from time-honoured freighters to Modern requires shifting from legacy freighters (A300, B767) to modern A330 P2Fs, which demands investment in conversion, training, and infrastructure.
Market instability: Cargo demand is influenced by global trade dynamics, economic cycles, and geopolitical shifts.
Competitive logistics environment: Faces rivalry from global integrators and nearshoring developments in Mexico.
Fuel Price Fluctuations – Fuel prices comprise the largest cost for an airline. As a result of an increase in oil prices, airline faces higher operating expenditures.
Currency Exchange Volatility- as an international airline operates internationally, they have to deal with many currencies. As a result of changes in exchange rates, which often impact revenue and cost, especially for countries with weak economies.
Financing and Investment Risks– Usually, airlines struggle to procure loans for expansion when the market is unstable. In this case, interest rates rise, making debt expensive.

Future Plans & Strategy

AeroUnion Air Cargo, now renamed as Avianca Cargo airline, Mexico, aims to expand its operation with a larger fleet of aircraft, including its anthologies, infrastructure investment, and adoption of the latest technology. Check out some of the plans and strategies.

Fleet expansion:- Aim to operate four A330 P2F aircraft by 2026 in Mexico.
Grid growth:- Increase frequencies and route coverage across Asia, Europe, and Latin America.
Modernization & sustainability:- Incorporate digital platforms like Cargo AI, Cargo Wise, etc, for efficiency. Furthermore, it aims to associate with CHOOSE for emission tracking and offsetting.

In addition to having cold-room innovations and warehouses, the company is also working to adopt environmentally friendly technology to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

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FAQs

What types of cargo does Avianca Cargo handle?

Avianca Cargo specializes in handling temperature-sensitive, oversized, perishable, and high-value cargo. It has CEIV certifications for Pharma, Fresh, Live Animals, and Lithium Batteries, ensuring safe and efficient transport.

What destinations does Avianca Cargo serve?

Avianca Cargo serves 12 key destinations, including Mexico City, Guadalajara, Los Angeles, Miami, and Bogotá, with connectivity to over 350 locations worldwide through interline agreements.

What is Avianca Cargo's fleet composition?

Avianca Cargo operates two Airbus A330-300 P2F freighters with a 60-ton payload capacity, with plans to expand to four P2Fs by 2026. It is phasing out older models like Airbus A300s and Boeing 767s.