Aeroméxico

Airline overview

Aeroméxico began as Aeronaves de México and flew its first service from Mexico City to Acapulco on 14 September 1934 with a single Stinson Reliant SR-5A. In 1988 the company was reorganised and renamed Aerovias de México, S.A. de C.V., keeping Aeroméxico as its commercial brand. The IATA two-letter code is AM, the ICAO three-letter code is AMX, and the official website is aeromexico.com, with cargo products handled through the cargo section.

The company is headquartered in Mexico City and operates from Terminal 2 at Mexico City International Airport, serving 35 domestic points and an international network of 18 countries across the United States, Canada, Central America, South America, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia. Aeroméxico is a founding member of SkyTeam, which it set up in 2000 with Air France, Delta Air Lines and Korean Air, and now reaches more than 170 countries through alliance partners.

Cargo is run under the Aeromexico Cargo brand. The whole operation rides in passenger belly holds with no dedicated freighter fleet, carrying about 160,000 tonnes in 2025, and cargo accounts for a notably higher share of revenue than at a typical passenger airline, which makes it one of the larger cargo operators among Mexican passenger carriers. For Chinese shippers the value of Aeroméxico is the dense reach of its Mexico City hub into Latin America and North America.

In 2024 the company marked its 90th anniversary with a new livery, and the fleet continues to move to the Boeing 737 MAX family, with an average age of about 8.5 years, among the youngest in Latin America. The combination of new-generation narrowbodies and Boeing 787 widebodies gives belly cargo a steady, modern capacity base.

Fleet size and belly cargo capability

At 31 December 2025 the Aeroméxico operating fleet numbered 165 aircraft with an average age of 8.6 years, made up of Boeing 787 widebodies, Boeing 737 family narrowbodies and Embraer E190 regional jets. The widebody fleet consists of the Boeing 787-8 and 787-9, flying trans-Pacific and transatlantic routes; the narrowbody fleet consists of the Boeing 737-800 and the new-generation 737 MAX 8 and 737 MAX 9, flying high-frequency routes within the Americas.

On freighter configuration: Aeroméxico has no dedicated freighter fleet, and all cargo rides in the belly space of the passenger aircraft above. During the pandemic the airline removed seats from Boeing 787s to run pure cargo flights, setting the longest flight record in its history; once normal operations resumed, cargo returned to the belly model. Chinese export cargo booked on its capacity follows the passenger belly booking process.

China routes past and present

Air cargo between Aeroméxico and China has gone through three stages: scheduled passenger belly service, pandemic cargo charters with passenger aircraft, and the current interline connections.

China cargo routings in table form

The table lists the main routings by which Chinese export cargo enters the Aeroméxico network, the type of connection and the historical operating record, so that Chinese shippers can compare options.

Ground handling and distribution at the Mexico City hub

Mexico City International Airport (MEX) lies east of the city at about 2,240 m above sea level and is one of the most important air hubs in Latin America. Aeroméxico operates from Terminal 2, and the cargo terminal handles receipt, depalletising, bonded storage and distribution for the Americas. In 2025 the airline opened its expanded domestic cargo warehouse, increasing receiving and inspection space by 50 percent and reaching annual cargo volume of about 160,000 tonnes, which gives Chinese cargo ground support on arrival.

Domestic network connections

Aeroméxico serves 35 points in Mexico with high-frequency flights using the Boeing 737 family and the E190. After clearance in Mexico City, Chinese export cargo can connect the same day to domestic flights for Guadalajara, Monterrey, Cancún, Tijuana and other main cities, covering Mexico's industrial and tourist core.

International regional distribution

From the Mexico City hub, Chinese cargo can be distributed further to the main markets of the United States, Canada, Central America and South America. SkyTeam membership extends interline distribution to partner networks in the Americas. Through us, a Chinese shipper can cover the whole chain from a Chinese gateway to an Americas consignee with one booking.

The twin-arc network

The diagram shows Chinese export cargo leaving East and South China gateways, following the two Pacific arcs to the Mexico City hub and spreading from there to markets in North America and Latin America.

Cargo types shipped from China to Mexico

Bilateral trade between China and Mexico ranks among the largest in Latin America, and China is an important source of Mexican imports. Chinese cargo carried on the Aeroméxico belly network falls mainly into the categories below.

Auto parts and manufactured goods

Mexico is a major global base for vehicle manufacturing and exports. Chinese auto parts, molds, industrial fittings and finished consumer goods reach Mexico's industrial belt through the Mexico City hub and form a steady export category. These goods carry higher value and suit priority shipment in widebody belly space.

Advantages of routing Chinese exports through the Mexico City hub

Chinese cargo entering the Americas through the Mexico City hub offers clear value in the situations below.

Documentation and customs requirements

Cargo exported from China to Mexico must be accompanied by a commercial invoice, packing list and air waybill, and the invoice details must match the packing list, otherwise the cargo cannot clear customs normally on arrival. Mexican customs uses electronic declaration for imports, and some industrial and consumer goods must meet the Mexican official standard NOM certification, which Chinese exporters must confirm before shipment. Electronic products containing lithium batteries must be packed under IATA dangerous goods rules and declared accurately, and temperature-controlled cargo must have cold chain conditions confirmed end to end at the booking stage.

For Chinese exporters that supply Mexico year-round, we can sign an annual cargo agreement that locks stable capacity and rates on a connecting plan. If Mexican customs policy or the carrier's fleet changes, we notify the Chinese shipper promptly and adjust the plan. Actual schedules and rates follow the aviation season and are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.

Booking path from China

A Chinese shipper using Aeroméxico belly capacity to Mexico and the wider Americas can arrange the whole move in three steps.

Our capabilities on the Mexico lane

Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited has long handled air freight from China to Latin America. On the Mexico lane we offer Chinese shippers the following services, all available directly.

Consolidation at China ports and export customs declaration

Chinese shippers can deliver at major gateways including Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Wuhan. We handle pickup, warehouse consolidation, export declaration and Aeroméxico belly booking. Cargo from Wuhan can use the established procedures of the carrier's former dedicated route.

Connecting routing design

Because Aeroméxico currently has no direct China flight, we design a full routing that connects through the Mexico City hub, based on the cargo profile and destination country. Long-term customers can sign an annual agreement to lock capacity and rates.

Dangerous goods and compliance pre-check

Mexico requires NOM certification and import permits for some products. Before booking we help Chinese shippers confirm the official standard certification and import permit documents, so cargo is not returned on arrival for incomplete paperwork. Dangerous goods such as lithium batteries have their packing method confirmed under IATA rules in advance, and temperature-controlled cargo has its transit connection conditions confirmed ahead of time.

Arrival tracking and distribution across the Americas

Once cargo leaves the Chinese gateway we track the air waybill throughout. After arrival in Mexico City we help arrange customs clearance and last-mile distribution within Mexico and to Central America, South America and North America. If the carrier changes its schedule we notify the shipper promptly and adjust the plan.

Depending on the destination and transit time required, shippers can choose between domestic and international distribution at the Mexico City hub. We cover consolidation at the Chinese gateway, export declaration, connecting booking, Mexican clearance and onward distribution, so the shipper does not have to line up agents in several countries.

Aeroméxico runs its hub at Mexico City, and Chinese cargo is distributed to major Mexican cities via Tijuana or Mexico City. We have long worked this lane and can handle gateway consolidation, export declaration, mainline carriage and local distribution in Mexico for Chinese exporters.

Aeroméxico's cargo product is belly capacity on passenger aircraft, which suits high-value and urgent shipments from China on daily direct services. We match space to the transit time required, and long-term customers sign annual agreements to lock peak-season capacity.

Actual schedules follow the aviation season and are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking. Call us at any time to discuss a booking.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)