Mas Air

Mas Air, legally Aerotransportes Mas de Carga, S.A. de C.V., is a Mexican cargo airline headquartered in Mexico City. The carrier specializes in transporting air freight with wide-body aircraft and operates both scheduled and charter services. Its network has historically linked Mexico with the United States and Colombia and has expanded to include destinations across the Americas, Asia, and Europe. The airline's principal hub is Felipe Ángeles International Airport near Mexico City, with additional operational links associated with Los Angeles and Zaragoza through its Maltese subsidiary, Galistair Malta. The business was established in 1992 and began flying in April 1995. In its early years, it concentrated on regional cargo routes, especially those connecting Mexico with the United States and Colombia. The carrier initially used Douglas DC-8 aircraft, but its fleet and operating capabilities changed significantly after LAN Airlines acquired an equity stake. LAN bought 25 percent of the airline in December 2000, and its holding later increased to almost 70 percent. Under LAN's influence, MasAir modernized its fleet and introduced Boeing 767 freighters, strengthening its role in the wider LATAM cargo system. In May 2016, following the consolidation of the LAN and TAM brands, the airline was renamed LATAM Cargo Mexico. The rebranding connected the Mexican carrier more visibly with the international cargo network operated by the newly formed LATAM Airlines Group. This period provided access to a broader commercial and operational platform while preserving the airline's Mexican operating identity. LATAM Airlines Group sold its stake to the Mexican private-equity firm Discovery Americas on December 1, 2018. The transaction returned the airline to independent ownership and ended its period within the LATAM corporate structure. After the ownership change, the carrier continued to develop its own network and fleet strategy rather than operating solely as a component of a larger airline group. In early 2022, the airline removed the word “Air” from its public brand and adopted the shorter name mas. The new identity was associated with an expansion-oriented strategy. During this phase, Mas Air became the first airline in the Americas to operate the Airbus A330 converted freighter, commonly referred to as the A330 P2F. The aircraft type gave the carrier a newer wide-body platform for medium- and long-haul cargo operations. In December 2022, Mas Air acquired a 49 percent interest in Galistair Malta, a Maltese charter airline. The investment broadened the Mexican carrier's international reach and supported operations involving Europe and other markets. Galistair Malta is also associated with Mas Air's operational presence at Zaragoza. Mas Air maintains interline agreements with Atlas Air and Nippon Cargo Airlines, which can extend commercial connectivity beyond the routes operated directly by its own aircraft. The airline's current business scope is centered on air cargo rather than passenger transportation. Its services include scheduled freight operations, charter cargo flying, and network connectivity for shippers and logistics partners. Its positioning combines Mexican market access with wide-body freighter capacity and international interline and subsidiary relationships. The available reference material identifies the carrier as active, but does not provide a complete current fleet count, route list, executive roster, financial profile, or detailed information about its cargo product segmentation.

Mas Air was established in Mexico in 1992 and started commercial operations in April 1995. The airline initially concentrated on regional cargo routes, with Mexico–United States and Mexico–Colombia services forming an important part of its early network. It operated as an all-cargo carrier and developed its business around freight rather than passenger transportation. A major ownership and fleet transition began in December 2000, when LAN Airlines acquired a 25 percent stake. LAN's interest subsequently increased to nearly 70 percent. During this period, the airline moved away from its older Douglas DC-8 equipment and introduced Boeing 767 freighters. The change represented both a modernization of the fleet and a closer integration with the cargo activities associated with LAN and, later, LATAM. In May 2016, after the consolidation of the LAN and TAM brands, the Mexican airline was renamed LATAM Cargo Mexico. The new name placed it within the LATAM cargo network and reflected its role as the group's Mexican cargo operation. LATAM Airlines Group remained the controlling shareholder until December 1, 2018, when it sold its stake to Discovery Americas, a Mexican private-equity firm. The sale restored the airline's independence from the LATAM group. The carrier entered another branding phase in early 2022, when it shortened its name to mas by removing “Air.” The rebrand accompanied a strategy emphasizing growth and international expansion. Around the same period, the airline became the first carrier in the Americas to operate an Airbus A330 passenger-to-freighter aircraft. The A330 P2F gave Mas Air a modern wide-body freighter platform suitable for longer-distance cargo operations. In December 2022, Mas Air acquired 49 percent of Galistair Malta. The investment created a corporate and operational connection with a Maltese charter airline and helped extend the group's international footprint. Galistair Malta is linked with Mas Air's secondary operating presence at Zaragoza, while Los Angeles is also identified as a secondary hub in the airline's network structure. Mas Air currently presents itself as a Mexican wide-body cargo airline with scheduled and charter services. Its stated geographic scope covers the Americas, Asia, and Europe. It also maintains interline relationships with Atlas Air and Nippon Cargo Airlines, allowing cargo traffic to connect through partner networks. The supplied reference material does not establish a complete list of current routes, aircraft quantities, financial results, or named current and former executives.

• 2022

  Adopts the mas brand

  [1]Mas Airen.wikipedia.org

  The carrier dropped “Air” from its public name and introduced a shorter brand identity.

• 2022

  Adds Airbus A330 converted freighters

  [1]Mas Airen.wikipedia.org

  Mas Air became the first airline in the Americas to operate the Airbus A330 passenger-to-freighter variant.

• 2022

  Invests in Galistair Malta

  [1]Mas Airen.wikipedia.org

  Mas Air acquired a 49 percent stake in the Maltese charter airline Galistair Malta.

• 2018

  Returns to independent ownership

  [1]Mas Airen.wikipedia.org

  LATAM Airlines Group sold its stake to Discovery Americas on December 1.

• 2016

  Rebranded as LATAM Cargo Mexico

  [1]Mas Airen.wikipedia.org

  The airline adopted the LATAM Cargo Mexico name as part of the consolidation of the LAN and TAM brands.

• 2000

  LAN Airlines takes an equity stake

  [1]Mas Airen.wikipedia.org

  LAN Airlines acquired 25 percent of the carrier in December; its ownership later grew to nearly 70 percent.

• 1995

  Commercial operations begin

  [1]Mas Airen.wikipedia.org

  Mas Air commenced airline operations in April, initially focusing on regional cargo routes.

• 1992

  Airline established

  [1]Mas Airen.wikipedia.org

  The Mexican cargo airline was established under the Aerotransportes Mas de Carga corporate identity.

A Mexican wide-body cargo airline focused on scheduled and charter freight services, international connectivity, and expansion across the Americas, Asia, and Europe.

• Air freight · 1995

  Scheduled cargo services

  Mas Air operates scheduled all-cargo flights linking Mexico with markets in the Americas and, through its broader network, Asia and Europe. The service is built around wide-body freighter capacity and is intended for regular movement of commercial freight rather than passenger travel.

• Air freight

  Charter cargo services

  The airline provides charter cargo operations in addition to its scheduled network. Charter flying allows freight movements to be arranged for specific customers, routes, or demand patterns that are not fully served by the regular timetable.

• Wide-body freighter · 2022

  Airbus A330 P2F operations

  Mas Air operates the Airbus A330 passenger-to-freighter variant, a converted wide-body aircraft designed for cargo transportation. The type supports the airline's long-haul and international expansion strategy and marked a significant fleet-generation step for the carrier.

• Cargo network service

  Interline cargo connectivity

  Interline agreements with Atlas Air and Nippon Cargo Airlines provide connections between Mas Air services and partner-operated cargo networks. These arrangements extend commercial reach without requiring Mas Air to operate every connecting sector itself.

• 2022

  Rebrand to masStrategy

  Background

  The carrier entered a new phase focused on expansion and a more concise market identity.

  Action taken

  The airline removed “Air” from its public name and adopted the mas brand.

  Aftermath

  The shorter identity accompanied the carrier's international growth initiatives and fleet development.

  Source

• 2022

  Introduction of Airbus A330 P2F operationsProduct launch

  Background

  Mas Air sought to expand its wide-body cargo capability with a newer-generation freighter platform.

  Action taken

  The carrier began operating the Airbus A330 passenger-to-freighter variant.

  Aftermath

  Mas Air became the first airline in the Americas to operate the A330 P2F, supporting its long-haul cargo ambitions.

  Source

• 2022

  Acquisition of a stake in Galistair MaltaM&A

  Background

  Mas Air was pursuing a broader international operating footprint beyond its Mexican base.

  Action taken

  The airline acquired 49 percent of Maltese charter carrier Galistair Malta.

  Aftermath

  The investment expanded the group's European and charter-airline links, including an operational connection with Zaragoza.

  Source

• 2018

  Sale of LATAM's stake to Discovery AmericasM&A

  Background

  LATAM Airlines Group held a controlling interest in the Mexican cargo airline after increasing its original 25 percent stake.

  Action taken

  LATAM Airlines Group sold its stake to Mexican private-equity firm Discovery Americas on December 1.

  Aftermath

  The airline returned to independent ownership and continued developing its own brand and expansion strategy.

  Source

• 2016

  Adoption of the LATAM Cargo Mexico identityStrategy

  Background

  The LAN and TAM brands were being consolidated under the LATAM name, creating a broader cargo network in which the Mexican carrier participated.

  Action taken

  The airline changed its public name from MasAir to LATAM Cargo Mexico.

  Aftermath

  The carrier operated as the Mexican cargo component of the LATAM network until LATAM sold its stake in 2018.

  Source

1. 1Mas Airen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Mas Air official websitemasair.com