CargoForwarder Global’s ‘Spotlight On…’ series showcases a different aspect of the air cargo industry every week to highlight its manifold career opportunities. Air cargo needs airports in order to function. Not all airports are the same – neither in size nor focus. This week, we hear from Bournemouth Airport’s Head of Cargo, Bob Matharoo (BM). What does cargo development look like at an English up-and-coming regional airport, what does he enjoy about the air cargo industry and what is his advice to those considering joining it?
CFG: What is your current function and company? And what are your responsibilities?
BM: Head of Cargo Development at Cargo First, which is the in-house cargo operations brand of Bournemouth Airport in the South of England.
As you’d expect, my role is focussed on business development with the core of that being relationship management; to be effective, it’s imperative that I generate strong engagement with existing and potential new clients but also the whole breadth of internal and external stakeholders to successfully achieve our business aims.
As a new and growing name in the industry, it’s really important for Cargo First that I have my ‘finger on the pulse’ at all times; to ensure we’re abreast of all the latest industry developments and are taking full advantage of our capacity to nimbly react to new trends and deliver effective solutions.
CFG: What does a normal day look like for you? (Or is there such a thing?)
BM: To coin a phrase: it’s very much like spinning plates! On any given day, I’ll be simultaneously planning what I’m doing that day, but also next week and even months ahead, and reacting to new opportunities as they come along – which is challenging but exciting.
Plus, the old adage that no two days are the same is absolutely spot on for my role: one day, I’ll be jumping in the car to make the 90-minute hop to London to meet with the myriad of freight forwarders, agents and brokers based there, the next, I’ll be found mucking in with the operation on site at Bournemouth Airport, and the following, I might be at a key trade conference or visiting an overseas client.
Being at the front end of the sales development function is really what it is all about – so no matter what my day entails, being out there and visible representing Cargo First is always the priority.
CFG: How long have you been in the air cargo industry, and what brought you to it?
BM: I first joined the aviation industry in 1986. Since then, I’ve I worked for a combination of industry-related companies including cargo agents, handling agents, airlines, GSAs and now an airport.
There’s no question that the diversity and fast pace of the sector is what made it such an attractive industry to work in; and that’s something that continues to be true to this day.
Having taken on this new role on the airport side three years ago, it’s great to be able to bring the benefit of that broad past experience to Bournemouth Airport.
CFG: What do you enjoy most about your job?
BM: I love working with people – having the opportunity to experience different countries, different working cultures, different ways of life, really makes me tick. There’s always something new to learn, and frequently elements of the way other people do things that can be applied to your own work.
For me, that’s what has made the industry so appealing for nearly 40 years!
CFG: Where do you see the greatest challenges in our industry?
BM: I’d say that the three biggest challenges are infrastructure, digitization and sustainability.
Particularly in the West, ability to deliver the physical infrastructure is equally as difficult as it is paramount to the continued success of the air cargo sector. I’m privileged to work for an airport that is forward-thinking with a highly supportive owner keen to help our clients grow and capitalize on the huge market potential we see for Bournemouth Airport as prime gateway for e-commerce goods to and from the UK.
Plus, as a regional airport with fast access to London, we’re really well positioned to be able to offer up the advantage of uncongested facilities to a market that, on the whole, finds itself with acute capacity shortage issues.
Digitization is clearly as much an opportunity as it is a challenge. There are obviously costs and complexities to developing and installing such technologies, but on the other hand, elements such as AI will offer us significant ability to find efficiencies that we simply can’t decipher at present.
Finally, sustainability is by far the biggest challenge which impacts every aspect of everything we do. As an industry, we accept our responsibility to be carbon neutral (a goal we, at Bournemouth Airport, have set ourselves to reach not later than 2040). Again, with challenge comes opportunity – for example: we’re committed to developing a PV solar array on site at the airport which, once running, will deliver up to 100% of the site’s power needs. It is truly exciting to think that we’ll become one of the UK’s first ‘off grid’ airports!
CFG: What advice would you give to people looking to get into the air cargo industry? Any particular training they should aim for?
BM: Since the pandemic, the eyes of the world have been truly opened to the important of logistics – with the air cargo industry being central to this. It is great that there’s now a much better understanding out there of the career opportunities that exist within the sector.
As per my own career, the best piece of advice I can give is to join a company that’ll give you an introduction to air cargo from as many sides as possible: operations, commercial, finance and so forth. That’s a great starting point from which to figure out where your interests and skills can take you. We’re very proud that Cargo First offers just such opportunities to get in, experience and learn.
Good luck – you will never look back; I didn’t!
CFG: If the air cargo industry were a film/book, what would its title be?
BM: King Kong – not to be underestimated, with strengths and intelligence far beyond that which the average person would appreciate!
Many thanks for your insights, Bob.
If you would like to share your personal air cargo story with our CargoForwarder Global readers, feel free to send your answers to the above questions to cargoforwarderglobal@kopfpilot.at We look forward to shining a spotlight on your job area, views, and experiences.
