Every week, CargoForwarder Global’s ‘Spotlight On…’ shines a focus on a specific segment of the air cargo industry, to illustrate the wide variety of careers on offer within it. Airlines are obviously the absolute core component of air cargo, transporting all kinds of commodities across the world. In the case of this week’s airline, it contributes more than mere commodity transport since it is also a key player in the world’s Valentine’s and Mother’s Day plans, being one of the leading carriers of flowers shipments out of Latin America to the international flower markets, for example. And it is a people-centered airline, as is clear from Leonel Ortiz, Chief Operating Officer at Avianca Cargo, who talks about his role and shares thoughts and advice to those looking to enter the industry.
CFG: What is your current function and company? And what are your responsibilities?
LO: I lead cargo operations for Avianca Cargo, supporting operations for Avianca Cargo Mexico, and GOL’s international cargo business, overseeing a multi-country network across the Americas and Europe.
My responsibility is to build safe, compliant, resilient, and efficient cargo operations across warehouses, freighter ramps, and ground handling partners. I also drive operational transformation, service reliability, and sustainable performance through strong teams, disciplined governance, and close collaboration with our partners and authorities.
CFG: What does a normal day look like for you?
LO: If there is such a thing as a ‘normal day’, nobody has sent me the SOP yet.
One moment, we are discussing strategy, digital transformation, and how to make our operations safer and more efficient. The next, we may be coordinating humanitarian aid, transporting endangered species as part of conservation programs, moving critical oversized equipment, or solving an operational disruption somewhere across our network.
That is what makes air cargo so fascinating – and slightly addictive. Every shipment has a purpose, and every day brings a different challenge. Fortunately, I have an exceptional team I can trust. In an industry that operates around the clock, knowing that capable people have each other’s backs is what allows us to respond, adapt, and deliver consistently.
CFG: How long have you been in the air cargo industry, and what brought you to it?
LO: I have spent 21 years in air cargo, and honestly, I never looked back.
I have always loved aviation, travelling, and discovering new cultures, but what really attracted me was the idea of connecting people, businesses, and opportunities through logistics. Air cargo gives every flight a mission beyond the journey itself.
I started in cargo sales, later moved into operations, regulatory compliance, and innovation, and today I lead cargo operations. Each role gave me a different perspective and helped me understand the business end to end – from the customer promise to what actually happens in the warehouse and on the ramp.
CFG: What do you enjoy most about your job?
LO: Solving problems that do not come with an instruction manual.
Air cargo constantly presents situations nobody has faced before, and sometimes we only have one opportunity to get them right. What I enjoy most is seeing people across airlines, airports, authorities, ground handlers, and our own teams come together under pressure to find a safe and effective solution.
I have also learned that leadership is not about having every answer. It is about building a team you trust, creating the conditions for people to make good decisions, and knowing that everyone will support each other when the operation gets difficult. No leader succeeds alone, and consistent results are always the product of a strong team.
CFG: Where do you see the greatest challenges in our industry?
LO: Technology integration remains one of our biggest challenges, but the issue is no longer simply the lack of technology. Our industry still operates through fragmented systems, duplicated processes, and different versions of the same information. Sometimes, digitalization adds another screen or another notification without actually simplifying the operation.
The real opportunity is to integrate data, processes, and people. Technology should improve decision-making, reduce operational workload, strengthen safety barriers, and create better service – not add more complexity to an already demanding environment. The companies that achieve this will build safer, more scalable, and more resilient cargo networks.
CFG: What advice would you give to people looking to get into the air cargo industry?
LO: Stay curious, remain humble, and spend as much time as possible close to the operation.
Visit warehouses, spend time on the ramp, and listen to operators, customers, pilots, authorities, and ground handling teams. Formal training – particularly IATA courses – provides an excellent foundation, but the operation will always be your greatest classroom.
Build relationships and surround yourself with people you can trust. Air cargo is a team sport, and nobody succeeds alone.
Finally, remember that while cargo operates 24/7, people should not try to. This industry is exciting, demanding, and sometimes addictive, so make time to disconnect, recharge, and prioritize yourself and the people who matter to you. Sustainable performance starts with sustainable people.
CFG: If the air cargo industry were a film/book, what would its title be?
LO: ‘No Autopilot’.
Because technology can support us, but air cargo ultimately moves through people: people who make decisions, solve unexpected problems, trust each other, and find a way forward when the original plan no longer works.
Thank you, Leonel!
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.
