Avion Express, a global leading ACMI operator (aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance), and part of Avia Solutions Group, start preparing to obtain an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) in Mexico, and as part of this, the company begins the recruiting process for the CEO of its Mexican ACMI pick-up. The establishment of the Mexican AOC is part of a strategic initiative to expand the company’s footprint in the most important growth markets of Latin America.
Mexico offers strong potential for this expansion. According to the country’s National Institute for Statistics and Geography (Inegi), more than 45 million international tourists visited Mexico last year – the highest number since 2019, but the demand for flights is not only driven by tourism. Air journey within Mexico plays an important role in connecting people across the country. In 2024 alone, more than 830,000 flights took place in Mexico, and local airlines served 596 city pairs, according to the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (Alta).
Alta also notes that the average person in Mexico took 0.85 flights in 2024, which is significantly higher than the average of 0.62 flights per person over Latin America and the Caribbean. Between 2017 and 2024, domestic air journey in Mexico grew by 4.4% per annum, while the international journey rose 3.7% annually.
Avion Express CEO Darius Kajokas said: “As ACMI operator, we are aimed at supporting airlines by adding capacity when it is most needed, especially in response to the demand fluctuations and seasonality in different markets. With an established presence in Europe, we expand our worldwide footprint by focusing on counter-cyclical market.
Obtaining an AOC in Mexico will significantly strengthen Avion Express’s status as a world leader in ACMI solutions. Now the company is focused on building a professional team that would have deep expertise in the local market.
“As a first step, we begin the recruitment process for the CEO of Avion Express Mexico, which will be responsible for building the team, which leads the certification of the Mexican AOC, and will run later the business as soon as it is in operation,” Darius Kajokas said.
Avion Express plans to secure the Mexican AOC within the next 24 months.
The ACMI business model is designed to help airlines manage seasonal fluctuations and operational challenges. Seasonal variations and shifting passenger question highlight the value and efficiency of ACMI solutions. These solutions enable airlines to adjust their fleet as needed during the peak travel season, which provides flexibility to respond to the seasonality in the market. Avion Express now operates 55 Airbus A320 Family Aircraft, which serves several customers airlines around the world, including Eurowings, Flybondi, KM Malta, Sunexpress, Transavia, Tunisair, Viva, Wizz Air, and many more.
