Miami startup cargo airline 7Air has named aviation veteran Edward Wegel as chief executive, less than a year after beginning commercial service.
The appointment comes just seven months after launch and follows the departure of previous CEO Michael Mendez, according to a source familiar with the matter. The company also confirmed on LinkedIn that Juan Nunez has been promoted to chief operating officer and will serve as the main point of contact with the Federal Aviation Administration on compliance issues. Nunez previously led flight operations.
7Air operates a fleet of four leased Boeing 737-800 converted freighters and focuses largely on the Caribbean and Central America. The airline is owned by The Xtreme Group, which also operates aircraft and engine maintenance businesses in South Florida.
In an internal message to employees, The Xtreme Group said Wegel brings deep aviation leadership experience and a proven ability to build and expand airline operations. The company described his strategic and operational background as an important asset as 7Air works to establish itself as a leading specialist cargo carrier.
Wegel is a familiar figure in the Miami aviation sector. He founded Global Crossing Airlines, which launched commercial operations in 2021 as a passenger and cargo charter carrier, before being removed in 2024 amid concerns that the company had expanded too aggressively into areas such as widebody aircraft, electric air taxis and Colombian operations. Before that, he led the investor group that revived Eastern Air Lines as a charter business. In 2024, he launched UrbanLink Air Mobility, and last year he co-founded Pan American World Airways as part of an effort to revive the historic brand with Airbus aircraft.
Wegel said he will remain CEO of both UrbanLink and Pan American while also leading 7Air.
Flight tracking data suggests 7Air currently serves destinations including Guatemala City, Havana and several Caribbean island markets, while also flying to Chicago and Rickenbacker Airport in Columbus, Ohio. Based on the airline’s website, many of its flights appear to be sponsored or dedicated operations arranged by logistics firms rather than standard scheduled cargo services. Customers reportedly include CubaMax and Antigua-based forwarder Globe LogisticZ.
The airline also appears to have operated flights for UPS during the December peak season, with tracking data showing one of its aircraft flying between Chicago and UPS’s hub in Louisville. Large integrators often use outside airlines to supplement capacity during busy periods.
Despite the opportunity, 7Air is entering one of the most difficult niches in air freight. Miami is already home to several established operators serving the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico, including Amerijet, 21 Air, GlobalX and IBC Airways. Competition is also reinforced by passenger airlines such as American Airlines, which carry cargo in their bellies, as well as by larger freighter aircraft such as the Boeing 767.
Industry observers note that the Caribbean can be especially difficult because of fragmented procedures, varying local business environments and limited return cargo, which makes it harder to cover operating costs. The 737-800 freighter also has range limitations, restricting its reach mainly to the northern Caribbean, Central America, Mexico and some domestic destinations.
At the same time, the type offers a cost advantage. Compared with Airbus A321 freighters, the 737-800 is generally cheaper to lease and operate, particularly in a market affected by excess aircraft supply and soft demand. Rival GlobalX recently parked two A321 freighters for that reason.
Wegel’s arrival also underlines how closely connected Miami’s air cargo leadership circle remains. Several 7Air staff members, including Nunez, previously worked at GlobalX, while Mendez had earlier led 21 Air before being replaced there in late 2024 by former Amerijet chief executive Tim Strauss.
