Can a brachycephalic breed fly with any carrier in the region?

Not with all of them. Most regional carriers restrict brachycephalic breeds from the hold and cargo due to respiratory risk. Aeroméxico is a notable exception, permitting these breeds in-cabin under specific conditions.

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Across The Pond Pets · Regional Guide

Pet-Friendly Airlines in Mexico, Central & South America

Q: What's the difference between the climate-controlled hold and manifest cargo?

In the hold, the owner flies on the same aircraft as their pet, who travels documented in the pressurized, climate-controlled hold. In manifest cargo, the pet travels unaccompanied through the airline's dedicated cargo division, regardless of whether the owner is flying that day.

Q: Do all Latin American carriers accept large pets?

No. Some low-cost carriers are built mainly for small and medium pets and don't run an international cargo program. Large pets on intercontinental routes generally need a carrier with a dedicated cargo division.

Q: Why does Copa Pets only operate certain days?

Copa Pets schedules shipments on specific days to align with quarantine office hours at destination countries, which don't always operate on weekends.

Q: Do restrictions on shipping pets into the U.S. from this region change often?

Yes, particularly on cargo programs, which have applied specific restrictions on dogs entering the U.S. at various points, sometimes with exceptions limited to certain entry airports.

Q: Should I book directly with the airline instead of using a pet transport company?

Direct booking is possible, but airline pet desks process bookings rather than advise on which tier applies to a destination or what the destination country's import authority requires, so working with an experienced coordinator reduces the risk of a rejected booking.

The carriers you'll actually fly on a Latin America move — Aeroméxico, Copa, Avianca, LATAM, Viva Aerobús — aren't in our main Airline Cargo Guide, because they don't operate the same way as the transatlantic carriers there. This guide covers how they actually handle pets, so a move to or from Mexico, Central America, or South America doesn't run into a surprise at check-in.

Regional Carriers Covered

Regions: Mexico, C.A., South America

IATA LAR

Compliant Coordination

Most of the carriers people ask us about for a U.S.-to-Latin America move — military PCS families included — aren't on our main Airline Cargo Guide, because that guide focuses on the large intercontinental carriers with dedicated cargo divisions like Lufthansa or Emirates. Mexican, Central American, and South American carriers are structured differently: many split pet transport into three distinct tiers rather than the simple cabin/cargo split you'll see elsewhere. Getting that distinction right is the difference between a smooth booking and a pet stuck at a cargo counter that doesn't process your paperwork that day.

Three tiers, not two

Latin American carriers commonly separate pet transport into cabin (your pet travels with you, under the seat), climate-controlled hold (your pet is documented like baggage and travels on your same flight, in the pressurized hold), and manifest air cargo (your pet travels unaccompanied through the airline's dedicated cargo division — common for larger pets or longer international routes). Not every carrier on this page offers all three.

Cabin Eligible Climate-Controlled Hold Manifest Air Cargo Seasonal Restriction Breed Restricted

Mexico

Aeroméxico

Cabin and hold, flights of 6 hours or less

Cabin EligibleClimate-Controlled Hold

Accepts dogs, cats, and household birds in-cabin (up to roughly 9kg with carrier) and in the climate-controlled hold (up to roughly 45kg), but only on flights of 6 hours or less — a real constraint that rules out some longer U.S.-Mexico routings. Maximum 6 pets per flight. Notably, Aeroméxico is one of the few carriers on this page that accepts brachycephalic breeds — in cabin only, never in the hold.

ATP tip: For flat-faced breeds moving between the U.S. and Mexico, Aeroméxico's cabin program is usually our first call — but we confirm the exact flight duration before booking, since the 6-hour cap eliminates some routes you wouldn't expect.

Viva Aerobús

Low-cost carrier, cabin and hold only

Cabin EligibleClimate-Controlled HoldBreed Restricted

Allows up to 11 pets per flight (5 cabin, 6 hold). Doesn't operate an international manifest cargo program the way the flag carriers do — a solid option for small pets on routes within Mexico and to Cuba, Ecuador, Colombia, and the U.S., but not the right choice for a large pet on a long intercontinental leg. Brachycephalic breeds restricted.

ATP tip: We'll use Viva Aerobús for an economical domestic Mexico leg, but for the international leg of a bigger relocation we typically pair it with a carrier that runs a real cargo program.

Central America & the Caribbean

Copa Airlines

Panama City hub — Copa Pets cargo

Cabin EligibleManifest Cargo (Copa Pets)Breed Restricted

Accepts small pets in-cabin (up to roughly 10kg with carrier) and runs a dedicated cargo program, Copa Pets, for anything too large for the cabin. Copa Pets only processes bookings on specific business days — not every day of the week — which can end up fixing your travel date more than seat availability does. Several breeds are excluded from cargo entirely, including Pit Bull, English Bulldog, Cane Corso, and Dogo Argentino.

ATP tip: Panama is a natural connection point between North and South America, so Copa shows up constantly in our routing options — but because Copa Pets doesn't run daily, we check cargo-day availability before we ever confirm a departure date with a client.

Panama as a Connection Point

Routing consideration

A lot of pet routings between South America and the Caribbean, or between the U.S. and smaller South American countries, connect through Panama City (PTY). A pet connection generally needs more handling time between flights than a standard passenger connection does — something that's easy to overlook when booking off the passenger minimum connection time.

ATP tip: We evaluate the minimum pet-safe connection window for every itinerary rather than assuming the passenger connection time is enough for pet handling.

South America

Avianca

Colombian hub — cabin, hold, and Avianca Cargo

Cabin EligibleClimate-Controlled HoldManifest Cargo (Avianca Cargo)

Runs all three tiers: cabin (up to roughly 10kg), a climate-controlled hold (up to roughly 70kg with carrier), and Avianca Cargo for larger pets or unaccompanied shipments. Some destinations — the UK among them — only accept pets as declared cargo through Avianca Cargo, with no hold or cabin option at all.

ATP tip: Avianca's flexibility is genuinely useful, but it also means the destination country — not just your pet's size — can force a Avianca Cargo booking instead of the simpler hold option. We confirm this per destination before quoting.

LATAM Airlines

South America's widest network

Cabin EligibleClimate-Controlled HoldLATAM CargoSeasonal Restriction

Covers Chile, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina, Brazil, and more, with cabin, a climate-controlled hold (up to roughly 45kg, or 32kg on routes to Europe, Argentina, or Venezuela), and LATAM Cargo for international shipments booked through a cargo agency. Restricts hold travel into New York and Boston during cold-weather months (pets must fly cabin-only in that window). LATAM Cargo has, at various points, applied specific restrictions on dogs entering the United States — we always confirm current status before booking.

ATP tip: LATAM Cargo's restrictions toward the U.S. have shifted more than once in recent years, sometimes with exceptions limited to specific entry airports. Of every carrier on this page, this is the one we monitor most closely before confirming a booking.

Quick Reference: Regional Carrier Comparison

A high-level snapshot. Pet policies across the region change frequently — always confirm current conditions with us before booking.

Airline	Cabin	Climate-Controlled Hold	Manifest Cargo	Breed Restrictions	Best For
Aeroméxico	Yes, up to 9kg	Yes, up to 45kg	No dedicated program	Hold only	U.S.–Mexico, short flights
Viva Aerobús	Yes, small pets	Yes, medium pets	Not available	Yes	Domestic Mexico routes
Copa Airlines	Yes, up to 10kg	No, goes to cargo	Yes, Copa Pets (limited days)	Yes, extensive list	Connections via Panama
Avianca	Yes, up to 10kg	Yes, up to 70kg	Yes, Avianca Cargo	Hold only	Colombia and cargo-only destinations (e.g. UK)
LATAM Airlines	Yes, small pets	Yes, up to 45kg (32kg to Europe/Argentina/Venezuela)	Yes, LATAM Cargo	Destination-dependent	Widest South America network

International cargo programs (LATAM Cargo, Avianca Cargo, Copa Pets) change more often than cabin rules do. We confirm current program status before quoting any route.

Before You Book, Confirm This

Regardless of carrier, these points decide whether your pet's move to or from the region goes smoothly.

Cabin, hold, or cargo — confirm which applies

The destination, not just your pet's size, can determine which tier is mandatory.

Cargo division operating days

Programs like Copa Pets don't run every day of the week — this can fix your travel date more than fare availability does.

Destination country import authority

SENASICA (Mexico), the ICA (Colombia), and SAG (Chile) each run distinct certification processes.

Carrier-specific breed restrictions

Breed lists vary — a breed accepted by one carrier may be excluded outright by another.

Seasonal restrictions on your route

Some cold-weather destinations restrict hold travel during certain months of the year.

Health certificate validity window

Most countries in the region require the certificate to be issued within 10 days of travel.

How Across The Pond Pets Coordinates Regional Bookings

Route and tier selection

We confirm whether your route requires cabin, hold, or cargo based on destination, pet size, and breed.

Booking with the right division

We book directly with Copa Pets, Avianca Cargo, or LATAM Cargo as needed — these aren't reserved the same way as a standard passenger ticket.

Country-specific documentation

We prepare exactly what the destination country's authority requires — SENASICA, the ICA, SAG, or another agency — alongside the airline's own paperwork.

Airport check-in coordination

A team member accompanies your pet through airline acceptance on departure day.

Transit and arrival monitoring

We track your pet's journey through any connections and confirm safe arrival at the destination.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between the climate-controlled hold and manifest cargo?

In the hold, you fly on the same aircraft as your pet, who travels documented in the pressurized, climate-controlled hold as if they were checked baggage. In manifest cargo, your pet travels unaccompanied through the airline's dedicated cargo division — regardless of whether you're flying that day. Some destinations require cargo with no exceptions.

Do all Latin American carriers accept large pets?

No. Some low-cost carriers, like Viva Aerobús, are built mainly for small and medium pets and don't run an international cargo program. For large pets on intercontinental routes, we generally recommend a carrier with a dedicated cargo division, like Avianca or LATAM.

Why does Copa Pets only operate certain days?

Copa Pets schedules pet shipments on specific days to align with quarantine office hours at destination countries, which don't always operate on weekends. This can limit your travel-date options more than you'd expect.

Can a brachycephalic (flat-faced) breed fly with any carrier in the region?

Not with all of them. Most regional carriers restrict brachycephalic breeds from the hold and from cargo due to respiratory risk. Aeroméxico is a notable exception, permitting these breeds in-cabin under specific conditions. We'll identify which carrier accepts your specific breed on your specific route.

Do restrictions on shipping pets into the U.S. from this region change often?

Yes, particularly on cargo programs like LATAM Cargo, which has applied specific restrictions on dogs entering the U.S. at various points, sometimes with exceptions limited to certain entry airports. We confirm current status before quoting any shipment into the U.S.

Should I book directly with the airline instead of using a pet transport company?

You can book directly, but airline pet desks process the booking rather than advise on which tier applies to your destination or what the destination country's import authority requires. Working with an experienced coordinator reduces the risk of your pet being turned away at the counter over a missed requirement.

Not sure which regional carrier fits your move?

Tell us your pet's size, breed, and Latin America or Mexico destination — we'll identify the right carrier and tier, and handle the booking.

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Airline pet policies, breed restrictions, and cargo program rules across Mexico, Central America, and South America change frequently and are set independently by each carrier. This guide is a general reference; always confirm current requirements directly with the airline or with our team before finalizing travel plans.