How to Register a Cargo Airline in Mexico

Considered the second-largest economy in Latin America and the fourteenth-largest worldwide, Mexico is a country full of opportunity. The country’s leading trading partner is the United States, which accounts for 80% of Mexico’s exports and 49% of its imports. In 2018, Mexico earned US$464.3 billion in imports and US$450 billion in exports, which is supported by a strategic location and robust trade agreements. Market experts believe that the Mexican economy has the potential to become the eighth-largest in the world by 2050.

Over recent years, the country has succeeded in attracting more foreign direct investment (FDI), allowing it to develop its economy. In 2018 the country’s FDI reached US$31.6 billion. With such significant international trade flows, the air freight transport industry experiences great demands to support the movement of goods. We explore the air freight market and how to register a cargo airline company in Mexico.

How to Register a Cargo Airline in Mexico – Air freight a highly valued method

Air travel for both passengers and cargo remains the fastest and most efficient way to reach delivery destinations across borders. Air cargo carriers are the most recent in our modern world. 

The world’s air freight industry is constantly adapting to new technologies and procedures tailored to the demanding standards of the aviation sector, and evolving needs of its users. New aircraft are constantly being introduced into the market, specially designed for cargo travel with differing capacities, types of load, and destinations they can reach.

A global market that continues to expand

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the global air cargo market and air cargo volumes continued their strong growth in 2017. Measured in terms freight of tonne-kilometers (FTK), freight and mail FTKs grew by 3.8%. Freight capacity is measured in available tonne-kilometers of freight (TKPA). The figures increased by nearly 5.4% over the year 2018. 

According to Alexandre de Juniac, Director General and CEO of IATA, despite a slowdown at the end of 2018 due to the weakening of world trade and geopolitical uncertainties, he believes global demand for air freight will increase by 3.7% in 2019. To continue the excellent progress of recent years, the sector must improve its uptake of digital and other new technologies. These changes will make it possible to transport more varied products under better conditions (pharmaceutical products).

The Mexican airline cargo transport market

Mexico’s air freight market is regulated and supervised by the Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil (DGAC). The air freight transport industry in Mexico began in 1921 with the creation of the Compañía Mexicana de Transportación Aérea, Mexico’s first air freight transport company. Since then, Mexican airlines have formed alliances with international companies, introducing opportunities for foreign investors in the air freight transport industry.

According to the latest figures from the DGAC, goods transported by air have represented 33% of all goods in Mexico (807 thousand tons). 60% of the domestic market is occupied by the three most significant companies in the country known as MasAir, AeroUnión & Aeroméxico.

Mexico International Airport (AICM), is the main gateway to the country, supporting more than 581,600 tons of freight movement, 82% of which was international. 47.7% of total goods and products are mobilized by the country’s ten main axes Los Angeles, Frankfurt, Memphis, Paris, Doha, Amsterdam, Luxembourg, and Madrid. 

Steps to register your cargo airline in Mexico

As a highly regulated industry, there is a specific procedure and a number of individual requirements for companies looking to establish themselves in Mexico’s air freight industry. 

Step 1 – Form your company in Mexico

To establish an airline, whether it is freight or passengers in Mexico, you must necessarily create a company in Mexico. This also applies to foreign companies seeking to establish a branch in Mexico, as they will necessarily have to create a company in accordance with Mexican laws. According to Article 9 of the Civil Aviation Legislation (Ley de Aviacíon Civil), only a concession granted by the Secretariat is necessary to provide the public service of scheduled national air transport, in order to obtain it you will have to prove that you have:

1. The technical, financial, legal and administrative capacity to provide the service in conditions of quality, safety, speed, permanence and price
2. The availability of aircraft and other aerial equipment in compliance with technical safety requirements, airworthiness requirements and environmental provisions
3. The availability of hangars, workshops, the necessary infrastructure for its operation, as well as the trained aeronautical and administrative technical staff for the exercise of the requested concession
4. Have, either by yourself or through associated Mexican commercial companies, the experience that allows them to remain in the sector and maximize the safety of their operations

Once this authorization has been given by the Secretariat, you may be insured for scheduled international air transport services provided that you have the authorization of the Secretariat. 

To create your company in compliance with Mexican law, you will first have to choose the legal structure adapted to your future air freight activity. However, applying the legal reasoning derived from the type and volume of services offered by airlines in Mexico, it would be advisable for an airline seeking to establish itself in Mexico to be incorporated as a “Sociedad Anónima de Capital Variable” (S.A. de C.V.). Then the partners and shareholders will have to draft the company’s articles of association, which includes the company’s name, tax address, corporate purpose, share capital, and others. This act of drafting the articles of association must be carried out before a notary in Mexico, who will then register your company in the Mexican Public Trade Register. Once the notary public and the Mexican Public Registry have taken the necessary steps, the creation of your company is officialized in Mexico.

Step 2 – Get the right certification for a cargo airline 

Besides, you will need to present the following specific certificates, including:

• Certificate of Registration for each aircraft to be included in the permit (the DGAC does not accept temporary documents)
• Certificate of Airworthiness: this must be unique for each plane that will be listed on the license
• Noise level certificates: these must indicate the aircraft type and serial number
• Air Operator Certificate: this must mention the name of the company that will appear on the permit.

Step 3 – Get your Mexico Charter Blanket Permit

This license is granted by the Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil (DGAC), working under the authority of the Secretaria de Communicaciones y Transportes.

In particular, your company’s insurance policy (or fleet policy for all your aircraft) must include:

• The name of the company that appears on the permit must be the same company that holds the insurance
• Proof that all employees are paid minimum wage salary in effect according to DGAC rules
• An outline of intent for commercial/chartered cargo operations, and under no circumstances for private transactions
• a national insurance certificate (Mexican Insurance Policy)
• the company’s field of practice: either worldwide, or within Mexican territory.
• the expiry date of the permit
• Must indicate all aircraft and them civil registration numbers and manufacturer serial numbers for each of them

Additional permit documentation

The DGAC also requires the following information to establish your air freight company in Mexico: 

• The company’s articles of incorporation: this must be a certified copy with original apostille, and will appear on the license. It  must identify the company owner, incorporator or main shareholder with their full address
• Operating Specifications Manual (notarized original copy): must identify the name of the company and be up to date. Section D085 must list all aircraft in the firm.
• completed copy of Ministry of Transport Form 4507
• The PIA manual: this is a manual for the publication of Mexican aeronautical information.

Once all these letters have been sent and their contents validated by the DGAC, you will be able to work as an air cargo transport company in Mexican airspace.

Looking for assistance with registering your airline in Mexico?

You should now have a better understanding on how to register an air cargo company in Mexico. Still, administrative procedures can be long and complicated, and companies applying to operate in this space should partner with local legal professionals who can support them in their expansion. Let us help you and accompany you throughout your project.

The Mexican team at Biz Latin Hub, a global law firm with local expertise, is here to help new and expanding companies through the market entry process and back-office services so that they have the best start for their activities in the Mexican market.

Thanks to our expertise in Latin American law, we can handle the registration process of your company. Feel free to contact us now.

Learn more about our team and expert authors, and check out our video below for tips on company formation in Mexico.