IATA Expands Cargo Services in Brazil, Mexico, and Paraguay

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is expanding the presence of its cargo offerings in Latin America, including the Cargo Accounts Settlement Systems (CASS). Cargo tonne kilometers for carriers based in the region grew an average 3.3% year-on-year in the 10 years to April 2026, resulting in a cumulative growth of 38.8% over the decade. This underpins the following developments:

Mexico
- CASS Domestic launched (April 2026), building on CASS Export (since 1987).
- FlexiPay rollout: Mexico becomes the second country (after the US) to adopt real‑time billing, secure prepayment, and flexible payment arrangements.
- Market size: In 2025, domestic air cargo exceeded 125,000 tonnes (15.8% of total tonnage).
- Growth routes (Q1 2026):
- Monterrey–Mexico City (+50.9% YoY)
- Tijuana–Guadalajara (+36.0% YoY)
- Mexico City–Hermosillo (+17.0% YoY)

Paraguay
- CASS Export planned for Q4 2026.
- Rapid growth: 2025 volumes reached 42,000 tonnes, up 225.3% YoY.
- Though smaller, Paraguay is emerging as a fast‑growing export market.

Brazil
- CASS Domestic planned for early 2027, complementing CASS Export (operating >20 years).
- Market size: 2025 volumes exceeded 791,000 tonnes, with 7.9% domestic traffic.
- Exports: Air cargo carried 5.9% of Brazil’s exports by value, though only 0.3% by weight (reflecting high‑value, low‑density goods).

About CASS
- Role: Streamlines billing and settlement between airlines and freight forwarders.
- Platform: Managed via CASSLink, a global web‑based e‑billing solution.
- Scale: In 2025, processed USD 47.5 billion with 100% on‑time settlement.
- Global footprint: 89 CASS Export, 9 CASS Import, and 2 CASS Domestic operations (including Mexico).

This expansion signals IATA’s commitment to strengthening domestic cargo markets in Mexico and Brazil and supporting Paraguay’s emerging export sector.