The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced the expansion of its cargo services in Latin America. The new developments are planned across Brazil, Mexico and Paraguay.
The move is aimed at supporting the region’s growing air cargo sector. Specifically, it focuses on strengthening billing, settlement and payment solutions for airlines, cargo agents and freight forwarders.
The announcement comes as aviation leaders gather in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the 82nd IATA Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit. This major global aviation event is hosted by LATAM Airlines Group.
Latin America’s Air Cargo Market Continues to Grow
IATA said cargo tonne kilometers for carriers based in Latin America grew by an average of 3.3% year-on-year over the 10 years to April 2026. As a result, there was cumulative growth of 38.8% over the decade.
The growth highlights the increasing role of air freight in supporting regional and international trade. With cargo volumes continuing to grow, IATA is enhancing its cargo-related services. This will help improve efficiency, transparency and financial settlement across the industry.
Mexico expands domestic cargo settlement services
IATA has launched CASS Domestic operations in Mexico which began in April 2026
CASS, or Cargo Accounts Settlement Systems, helps simplify billing and settlement between airlines and freight forwarders. Mexico already had CASS Export operations in place since 1987. The addition of domestic operations is expected to support the country’s growing internal air cargo market.
Mexico will also become the second country after the United States to roll out IATA FlexiPay. This service enables real-time billing, secure prepayment and more flexible payment arrangements between airlines, cargo agents and freight forwarders.
Mexico remains one of the largest air cargo markets in Latin America. In 2025, the country’s domestic air cargo segment transported more than 125,000 tonnes of cargo. This represented 15.8% of the total tonnage transported from, to and within Mexico.
Domestic connectivity also strengthened in the first quarter of 2026. Fast-growing routes include Monterrey to Mexico City International Airport, Tijuana to Guadalajara, and Mexico City International Airport to Hermosillo.
Paraguay to Launch CASS Export
IATA also plans to open CASS Export in Paraguay in the last quarter of 2026.
Although Paraguay is considered one of Latin America’s smaller air cargo markets, it has recorded strong growth in cargo volumes. Paraguay air cargo traffic reached over 42,000 tonnes in 2025, a 225.3% increase year on year.
The momentum is expected to be sustained by the planned launch of CASS Export. This will offer airlines and freight forwarders a more seamless and reliable settlement system.
Brazil to Launch CASS Domestic in 2027
IATA plans to implement CASS Domestic in Brazil starting early 2027. This will build on the existing CASS Export system. The Export system has operated in the Brazilian market for more than two decades.
Brazil is a key aviation and cargo market in Latin America. Carriers serving Brazil handled more than 791,000 tonnes of air cargo in 2025. Domestic traffic comprised 7.9% of that total.
Air cargo also played a significant role in Brazil’s export economy. Air freight made up 5.9% of Brazil’s exports by value in 2025, despite accounting for only 0.3% of total export weight. This reflects the importance of air cargo for high-value and low-density goods.
CASS Supports Global Air Cargo Settlement
CASS is a major IATA platform designed to simplify the settlement of accounts between airlines and freight forwarders.
The system is managed through CASSLink, a global web-based e-billing solution. By automating and standardising billing and settlement processes, CASS helps reduce complexity and improve financial efficiency across the air cargo supply chain.
In 2025, CASS processed USD 47.5 billion and achieved a 100% on-time settlement rate. Globally, IATA operates 89 CASS Export operations, nine CASS Import operations and two CASS Domestic operations. This includes the newly launched Mexico Domestic CASS.
IATA Highlights Trust in Latin America’s Cargo Market
Juan Antonio Rodríguez, IATA’s Executive Director for Financial Services, BSP and CASS, said the association has supported airlines in Latin America for decades. It has done so through streamlined payment and settlement systems.
He noted that the cargo industry recognises the value of CASS and is now placing its trust in IATA to support domestic market growth in Brazil and Mexico. In addition, IATA will support the emerging export market in Paraguay.
Why the Expansion Matters
The IATA cargo services expansion will strengthen Latin America’s air freight infrastructure as cargo demand continues to grow.
For airlines, cargo agents and freight forwarders, the expansion of CASS and IATA FlexiPay can help improve settlement speed, payment security and operational efficiency.
For regional trade, better cargo settlement systems may support smoother movement of goods, stronger connectivity and improved confidence among industry stakeholders.
As air cargo continues to support high-value trade across Latin America, IATA’s latest expansion in Brazil, Mexico and Paraguay marks an important step in modernising cargo services across the region.
