There was positive change in the air at the Aviation Connect in Istanbul, Türkiye, last week – even before the Bomonti* orders began flowing over the conference hotel bar. This year, the conference encompassed 6 streams, including the ACHL 2024, and was held at the Renaissance Polat Istanbul from 29-31OCT24. CargoForwarder Global was there and these are the takeaways.
Ram Menon, Group Chief Commercial Officer, Wallenborn Transports’ observation during the ACHL panel on ‘Revitalizing Supply Chain Dynamics’, best describes the general ambience of the conference: “We integrate, we collaborate. We break away traditional barriers. The ‘Old Boys’ Club’ of cargo is changing. Mentality is changing.”
Record growth and positive expansion
In just two years, what Master of Ceremonies, Mark Pilling, Editor of Airline Routes & Ground Services, referred to as the “Ground and Cargo Handling event of the year”, organized by UK-based Eva International Media, has almost doubled in number of attendees (770+ in 2024, compared to under 500 in 2022, 600+ in 2023). Registrations were still coming in in the weekend run-up to the event, despite it falling on Türkiye’s 101st anniversary celebration (29OCT24) – a fact that was respectfully acknowledged with much music and flag-waving near the end of the day. A record 60+ exhibitors were available to talk to in a hall that was far larger than at previous events, and 27 sponsors supported the event, which now brings a total of 6 conference streams together: the ACHL (now under Henrik Ambak’s Chairpersonship), The Airport Services Association (ASA)’s Leadership Forum, ULD Care, Airfreight Pharma, GSE & Ramp Ops Global, and the Road Feeder Services (RFS) Forum.
Collaboration, mindset, change management
No wonder, then, that true to the conference’s new branding as Aviation Connect, ‘collaboration’, ‘change management’ and ‘mindset shift’ came up in discussions, time and again. All panels were carefully balanced to include stakeholders from across the air cargo journey, even including EASA and independent shipper and consultants, alongside members from each of the six streams, as well as IATA and TIACA representatives, depending on the topic. For the first time in the event’s history, plenary sessions were included at the start and the end of event, bringing together the 6 streams and setting the expectations for the conference and summarizing the event’s key takeaways and targets for the coming year. These, as well as an ASA CEO Panel at the very end of the second day, were remarkably well-attended, compared to previous years, and were certainly worth their while.
Success, standards, and sharing
With panels on cargo handling achievements, enhancing stakeholder collaboration, improving cargo handling efficiency, advancing sustainability, technology, and pushing for minimum standards in ground and cargo handling, the conference tackled many of the industry’s challenges in an open, constructive dialogue. The innovation showcase on day one, with its 7-minute slots per speaker, also demonstrated a number of truly useful and applicable industry solutions, and was an inspiring change to the usual company plugs in past years. It also emphasized a core message throughout the event: the technology is there – the true challenge is user acceptance and encouraging a mindset shift within the industry/respective company.
Facing a new dawn
In the closing plenary on the final day, each of the stream heads summarized their impressions of the three-day event. For Fabio Gamba, Director General, ASA, the need for Aviation Connect was clear. “I strongly feel we are about to face a new dawn,” he declared, mentioning the upcoming EASA regulation for 30 countries, as well as a soon to be published report showing the importance of ground handling, globally. “We [ASA] are partnering with IATA to get more visibility on this industry […] Power is in data,” he concluded.
Henrik Ambak, ACHL Chairperson, commented on the discussions on digitalization, urging participants to take the lead and encourage others to follow. His greatest wish was for minimum standards across the industry. His takeaway from the standards panel was that “instead of waiting for a uniform standard, people will be doing something,” but that we could expect progress. Another topic stood out: “e-commerce is on everyone’s lips and has a big impact on cargo,” including triggering the discussion of multi-assignment to more than one GHA.
Bob Rogers, VP & Treasurer, ULD Care, commended Aviation Connect’s success in bringing the industry together and breaking down silos. He emphasized the positive changes that ULD Care has been working on during the past year, regarding sustainability standards: lower weight ULDs and the sustainability label. This will continue in 2025.
Expect the unexpected!
Stavros Evangelakakis, CCA Board Member, reminded participants that “1.9% of pharma in volume, goes via air, representing USD 1.9 billion in turnover.” Yet temperature deviations still happen, so collaboration and transparency are crucial. He was particularly impressed by the “younger generation [who] presented really interesting topics [which he went on to illustrate], and created a positive vibe in the room. There is HOPE! […] We should create a platform with these positive examples,” he urged, and mentioned 2 phrases that he was taking away from the event: “We need to ‘expect the unexpected’, and ‘complexity is the new norm’.”
For Jason Breakwell, Commercial Director, Wallenborn Transports, attending as RFS representatives for the first time and engaging with the airlines, handling companies, airports, etc. present, it was clear: “RFS has been a big success and definitely needs to be a permanent fixture. Can we have a larger room next time, please?!” His verdict: “RFS is an increasingly important part of the air cargo ecosystem and needs to have a seat at the table prior to infrastructure developments, digital integration, or sustainability policies.”
A greater voice in the wider industry
Representing GSE & RAMP OPS, dnata’s Robert Powell, VP President, Technical Services, listed three themes: A necessary mindset shift in regard to innovation, away from reasons why things cannot be done to discussing what CAN be done. Regarding sustainability: “it doesn’t really matter what the energy type may be, they all require an element of infrastructure” and barriers need to be broken down in attitudes to bring about solutions. Lastly, he pleaded for an image shift: “We need to make the industry attractive to next generation […] Package it better to show the excitement, travel, dealing with people. […] At GSE, we are no longer ‘greasy, dirty guys’, but a diverse, highly educated, tech-savvy team. We need a greater voice in the wider industry,” he concluded.
Wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen!
As revealed by Lars Gotfredsen, Senior Air Cargo manager, Airline Sales ALS, at the very end of the conference, the next Aviation Connect will see the conference location shift again, this time heading north to Copenhagen, Denmark. The dates have not yet been set, so stay tuned and CargoForwarder Global will let you know as soon as possible. And for those uncertain as to whether they should attend, Steve Allen, CEO of dnata, speaking in the CEO panel on 30OCT24, said: “This conference is best attended by the most senior people in our industry that I have ever seen!” No better place, therefore, to discuss with the air cargo industry’s decision makers across the board.
The next Aviation Connect will take place 14-16OCT25 in Copenhagen!
*If you’re into cultural education, know that Bomonti, founded 1890, is the oldest brewery in Istanbul, Türkiye, and now belongs to Efes, which continues to brew Bomonti as per the original recipe.”
