MEXICO CITY, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Mexican state-run

airline Mexicana will kick off cargo flights soon, its chief

executive said on Monday, and is eyeing opportunities to launch

international flights throughout the Americas.

Mexicana, run by the military, re-started operations at the

end of last year after the government bought the rights to the

brand from a defunct airline.

At the moment, the carrier operates domestic passenger

flights, using the also military-run airport outside of Mexico

City as its hub.

"Soon we'll start offering cargo (flights)," CEO

Leobardo Avila said at a panel alongside business leaders,

including the chief executive of Brazilian planemaker Embraer ( ERJ )

.

Mexicana signed an agreement in June

for 20 Embraer E2 jetliners.

With their arrival, Avila said, Mexicana can greatly

boost its offerings.

The executive did not say how soon Mexicana could launch

cargo flights, but that it was targeting large supply chains.