The Mexican cargo airline industry has fully rebounded from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to data provided by the local authorities. As of November 2021, the freighter airlines operating in the country were already carrying 17.7% more tons than in the same month two years before, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. But, which airports are the most significant for cargo in Mexico? Let’s investigate further.
What the data tells us
There are 60 commercial airports in Mexico operated by both private owners (known as airport groups) and the Mexican Government. In terms of passengers, Mexico City International Airport (MEX), Cancun (CUN), Guadalajara (GDL), Tijuana (TIJ), and Monterrey (MTY) are the most important. They had received 78.7 million passengers between January and November 2021, having a 69.4% share of the overall passenger segment in the country.
In terms of cargo, the top five are almost the same as with passengers, with a couple of exceptions. According to the Mexican authorities, the most important hubs for freighter operations are Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Querétaro (QRO), and Toluca (TLC). Between the five hubs, they had 869,284.3 tons of cargo distributed, both domestically and internationally, until November 2021. That number represents 84.3% of the overall cargo handled at Mexican airports.
It is not a surprise to see these airports on the list; Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, and Querétaro are four of the most important cities in the country in terms of industrial development. Meanwhile, the Toluca International Airport is close enough to Mexico City, and while it can be considered a white elephant for commercial flights, it sustains itself from freighter and private aviation.
Mexico City is the country’s largest cargo hub
The international airport in Mexico City is, by itself, responsible for half of all the cargo that goes in and out of the country. Between January and November 2021, it accounted for 50.2% of all the freight. Guadalajara, the second hub for freighter operations, accounted for only 17.5%.
MEX is particularly a highly effective hub for carrying international cargo. According to the data provided by the Mexican Government, this airport accounts for 63.8% of all international tons moved. On the other hand, it only accounts for 24.3% of the domestic freighter market.
Mexico’s most important freighter routes
Once we have established Mexico’s most important airports for cargo operations, now let’s take a look at the most important routes.
Internationally, Los Angeles has become Mexico’s main international connection when it comes to cargo. The routes Mexico City-Los Angeles and Guadalajara-Los Angeles are number one and three in terms of tons carried in 2021. The number two is Mexico City-Frankfurt.
Completing the top five, there are two additional routes from Mexico City, to Doha and Paris, according to the data provided. The top ten is completed with the routes Mexico-Luxembourg, Guadalajara-Memphis, Mexico-Bogota, Mexico-Hong Kong, and Toluca-Memphis.
Mexico’s most important cargo carriers
Mexico has eight airlines that operate cargo services domestically and internationally. Some of them also provide passenger services. These airlines are Aéreo Calafia, Aeromar, Aeroméxico, Aerounión, Estafeta, Mas Air, Volaris, and Viva Aerobus.
According to the data, Mas Air is Mexico’s largest cargo carrier, having handled 94.9 million kilograms of cargo. Aeromexico was in second place with 86.8 million kilograms, according to the Mexican Government.
What do you think? Is there room for growth in Mexico regarding the freighter airline industry? Let us know in the comments below.
