Mexico City, Mexico
Air freight in Mexico City
Ziem Logistics books air freight to and from Mexico City via Felipe Angeles (NLU). We arrange pick-up and delivery in the Mexico City area and prepare the customs entries before the cargo flies. For air freight to and from Mexico we issue our own air waybills.
Airports, seaports and connections in Mexico City
- AirportFelipe Angeles
NLU - AirportBenito Juarez
MEX - SeaportVeracruz and Manzanillo
Felipe Ángeles International Airport (NLU) at Santa Lucía, north of the capital in the State of Mexico, is now the main airport for dedicated freighter flights serving Mexico City, after all-cargo operations were moved away from the city airport. Benito Juárez International Airport (MEX) still handles cargo carried in the bellies of passenger aircraft, which matters for urgent consignments on passenger routes. For sea freight, the Valley of Mexico is served by the Gulf port of Veracruz and the Pacific port of Manzanillo, both reached by road and rail. Choosing between NLU, MEX and the two seaports depends on the origin lane, the cargo type and the delivery address within the metropolitan area.
Toll highways radiate from the capital: the Mexico–Querétaro highway towards the Bajío and the US border, the Mexico–Puebla–Veracruz highway to the Gulf, and the Mexico–Pachuca road past NLU. The Circuito Exterior Mexiquense and the Arco Norte let trucks bypass the city centre. Freight rail lines run by Ferromex and CPKC link the Valley of Mexico with Veracruz, Manzanillo and the northern border. We arrange pick-up and delivery across Mexico City and the surrounding State of Mexico, including the Toluca area.
Operational logistics facts for Mexico City
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Felipe Ángeles International Airport (NLU) | Freighter cargo, general and consolidated air freight | Main all-cargo airport for the capital, outside the congested city centre |
| Benito Juárez International Airport (MEX) | Belly cargo on passenger flights, urgent small shipments | Extra flight options for time-critical consignments |
| Port of Veracruz | FCL and LCL to and from Europe and the US Gulf | Gulf port with direct highway and rail access to the capital |
| Pharma and medical-device sites in the metropolitan area | Regulated healthcare imports under COFEPRIS rules | Permits checked during tariff classification, before the goods ship |
Industries in Mexico City and how we support them
The metropolitan area is Mexico's largest consumer market, so imports of consumer goods, electronics, retail stock and spare parts dominate. Many pharmaceutical and medical-device companies have plants, laboratories and distribution centres in the capital and the State of Mexico, where products fall under COFEPRIS health regulation. Services, telecoms and data infrastructure add demand for IT hardware. Ziem Logistics moves this cargo by air freight on our own air waybills, with Next Flight Out for urgent parts and On-Board Courier for hand-carried items. Customs clearance is handled by a partner team in the Ziem network, under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures, and sea freight via Veracruz or Manzanillo is handled in the same shipment file.
Urgent parts to and from Mexico City
When a production line or a project in the Mexico City area is waiting for a part, we book Next Flight Out via Felipe Angeles (NLU): the shipment goes on the first suitable flight, with the customs data prepared before departure.
For items that cannot wait for regular cargo handling, an On-Board Courier carries the shipment as hand luggage and hands it over in person.
Our own air waybills in Mexico
We issue our own air waybills for shipments to and from Mexico. We book directly with the airline, control the shipment data and can make changes without waiting for a third party.
Customs clearance in Mexico
Ziem network
Customs clearance in Mexico is handled by a partner team in the Ziem network, under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures.
For air freight to and from Mexico we issue our own air waybills.
Importers in Mexico need an RFC tax ID and registration in the Padrón de Importadores.
Frequently asked questions
Which airport do you use for air freight to Mexico City, NLU or MEX?
Most freighter capacity now operates at Felipe Ángeles (NLU), so general and heavier cargo usually lands there. For small urgent consignments, belly space on passenger flights into Benito Juárez (MEX) can be the better option. We choose the airport per booking and confirm cut-off and arrival details when we quote.
Do you issue your own air waybills for Mexico City shipments?
Yes. Ziem Logistics has direct airline access and issues its own air waybills for shipments to and from Mexico City. You book with us, and we handle the airline booking, the documents and the hand-over at the cargo terminal.
Can an On-Board Courier deliver a part directly to a plant in the State of Mexico?
Yes. An On-Board Courier carries the part as hand luggage on a passenger flight, clears it on arrival with the support of the partner team and delivers it to the consignee's door, for example to a production site in the Toluca area or north of the city.
How do I get a quote for air freight to or from Mexico City?
Send us the origin, destination, goods description, weight and dimensions. Our operations desk replies with a routing via Felipe Angeles (NLU) and an itemised quote.