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Spotlight on… Kenneth Gibson, Business Development & Membership, TIACA

Heiner Siegmund
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Spotlight on… Kenneth Gibson, Business Development & Membership, TIACA

Every week, CargoForwarder Global shifts the ‘Spotlight On…’ to a specific segment of the air cargo industry, giving the mic to an individual working there. This is to illustrate just how varied its career opportunities are. In such a fragmented industry, with so many different stakeholders involved in getting air cargo safely from A to B, it is all the more important to have a global platform where they can all come together and discuss the topics driving the industry. TIACA is one such platform offering collaboration, support on topics such as sustainability/digitalization, and a unified industry voice advocating for the future of air cargo logistics. This week, Kenneth Gibson (KG), Head of Business Development & Membership at TIACA, shares insight into his responsibilities, views and advice to those considering working within air cargo.

Image: Kenneth Gibson

CFG: What is your current function and company? And what are your responsibilities?

KG: As Head of Business Development & Membership for TIACA, The International Air Cargo Association, my goal is to aide our members in getting the most benefit out of their memberships; by connecting them with potential customers/vendors, increasing their brand awareness, and showcasing their industry footprint (this includes accomplishments, sustainability goals, growth, and innovations, to name a few). My responsibilities include expanding TIACA membership, selling/promoting TIACA events, and I’m currently the acting Master of Ceremony for TIACA’s Air Cargo Forum and Executive Summit.

CFG: What does a normal day look like for you?

KG: Being in the U.S., we have to catch up to the rest of the world, so, I usually schedule my meetings early (6-7 a.m.). I then begin working on emails, drop off the kids at school between 8-8.30 a.m., followed by some gym time before heading back to the office. I split up my day between current member support and prospecting for new business. Depending on the time of year, ‘new business’ could mean prospecting for new members, new exhibitors, and/or new sponsors. The rest of my day, I use to address any existing member issues, provide ‘Member 2 Member’ introductions, and overall member support.

CFG: How long have you been in the air cargo industry, and what brought you to it?

KG: Going on 12 years now. I landed a temp job with CNS (IATA) in 2014. Mr. Warren Jones was the President of CNS at the time, and he referred me to TIACA’s Director General, Mr. Douglas Brittain.
Before that, I had no exposure to the Air Cargo industry, nor any sales experience for that matter. However, once on board, I saw an opportunity to help people in growing their businesses. TIACA, and the industry in general, provided me with a new sense of purpose. The ability to connect others and be a part of their company’s journey was very empowering and fulfilling. Something I had never experienced professionally.
I decided this is the industry for me. In the years that followed, I went back to school and earned a Master’s Degree in Global Strategic Communications.

CFG: What do you enjoy most about your job?

KG: I enjoy getting to meet new people, experiencing new cultures, and the gratification I get in supporting our members.
TIACA has created a sense of ‘family’ within the industry, and I’m very privileged to be a part of it. From our Board of Directors to the TIACA team, you can feel that it’s ‘friends first, colleagues second’.

CFG: Where do you see the greatest challenges in our industry?

KG: I believe the biggest challenge will be in attracting and retaining future talent.
Air Cargo is much more than moving boxes. I’m confident that Air Cargo can provide anyone who’s willing to listen, with a sense of career satisfaction and excitement.

CFG: What advice would you give to people looking to get into the air cargo industry?

KG: Think of what you like to do, your strengths, your character… I’m sure there is a role in air cargo that is made just for you.
Stop thinking of Air Cargo as only pilots and delivery men & women.
Aside from the Supply Chain, Logistics, and Operational side, you’ll find opportunities in Media, Journalism, Creativity, Marketing, Sales & Communications, Sustainability, Consulting, Events, and more.

CFG: If the air cargo industry were a film/book, what would its title be?

KG: ‘Here today… the World, tomorrow.

Thank you, Kenneth!

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.

EU Cross-Border Forum – Comments

Heiner Siegmund
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EU Cross-Border Forum – Comments

The recent EU Cross-Border Forum (EU CBEC) in Liège, attracted roughly 900 cargo professionals – a record-breaking number of participants. A key reason for this was that, since JUN26, the EU has been imposing a fee of EUR 3 per e-commerce shipment originating from outside the bloc. Consequently, this issue – which has led to a significant decline in the volume of goods imported by air freight – was at the center of the forum’s discussions. This was particularly evident during networking sessions, whereas most seats in the Van der Valk Hotel’s convention center remained empty despite many exciting topics. CargoForwarder Global asked some of the participants for their impressions of the trade show. Here are their comments: 

Jason Breakwell of Wallenborn S.A., photos: CFG/hs

Jason Breakwell, Wallenborn

The place is not very centralized and not easy to reach. However, the fact that the trade show attracted high caliber speakers and senior officials says a lot about the growing importance of Liège as a leading European cargo hub. In the past, Liège was associated with perishables. Global forwarders were missing but now they are here. The people responsible at the airport did a good job to attract them, which led to a remarkable growth in volumes mostly coming in from China, and a noticeable value increase.

Wallenborn runs a station at Liège Airport (LGG) since 2017. It was one of the best decisions ever we made. Currently, LGG accounts for 12% to 15% of our total air freight business, while 50% of Wallenborn’s entire business is air freight related.

Pascale de Mieter, Maastricht Airport

Pascale de Mieter, Maastricht Airport

Connecting with the members of the air freight community always causes a positive mood because AI, Teams or Zoom cannot replace face-to-face conversations. I am also attending the Liège event because I am eager to hear the latest successes of the industry, and learn more about challenges and the solutions to master them. For me, attending the EU CBEC feels also like coming home since Liège is originally my homebase where I engaged in the air freight business for the last 23 years. So, it’s always good to liaise with my community once again.

Another reason is that Maastricht Airport can become a player by managing parts of the flows to or from LGG. Each airport has its strong points, and the Maastricht community is a one-of-a-kind community that finds solutions for air freight players, should hiccups occur. I think solving shortcomings through collaboration is our common interest because customer expectations and needs are standing on top of our airport’s agenda.

Markus Flacke, Lufthansa Industry Solutions

Markus Flacke, Lufthansa Industry Solutions

This is my second time at an EU CBEC in Liège. I believe this to be a good format for a conference by focusing on one specific theme in the air cargo supply chain. A real highlight are the insights on the drivers behind the e-commerce supply chain and how the business challenges the capabilities of ground handlers, airlines and airports alike.

What becomes very apparent though, is that this specific market segment requires an even stronger IT backbone and data insights than traditional air cargo. Nowadays, e-commerce operates in a highly regulated environment with tariffs and a multitude of customs regimes in place – here IT becomes a crucial part of a fast and efficient fulfilment process. As far as conferences are concerned, this is an event worth attending. However, one would like to see a more coordinated and harmonized conference schedule. September alone will have seen three conferences – beginning with Frankfurt’s Air Cargo Community Conference, followed by the EU CBEC in Liège, and the series then ending in Budapest, where IATA Cargo runs its “Cargo Experts” event from 23-24SEP26.

Asok Kumar, Morrisson Express

Asok Kumar, Morrisson Express

My main reasons for attending the EU CBEC event are networking and learning more about the latest developments and trends in the industry. That’s vital in my job. Hence, I attend two to three such events each year to sustain that goal. Of course, I need to prioritize since I cannot attend all trade shows offered by event organizers. Rounding off the three days of the EU EBEC, I’m glad to say that this trade show belongs to the ones I prioritized.

Arlette Kabore of Néré Cargo Consulting, photo: CFG/hs  – IhrFoto sende ich gleich gesondert

Arlette Kabore, Néré Cargo Consulting

    Basically, I decided to attend the event because my job is about connecting European cargo players with their African peers, particularly with actors in Burkina Faso. In that country and in West Africa in general, there is a strong demand for pharma imports and e-commerce. On the export side, the region can offer the air transport of perishables into Europe.

    My very first lesson in organizing and running trade shows, I learned in Riga, where I attended the Nordic Air Cargo Symposium 2026, last April. This said, I can say that there are severe differences between European and African market requirements in air freight. In Europe, regulations and bureaucratic rules are enormous, whereas in Africa, the business is run a bit more relaxed, to put it mildly. In addition, while in Europe, air and ocean freight, rail services and trucking play their respective parts to optimize supply chains, Burkina Faso for instance, is a landlocked country that relies heavily on air freight services. To foster this understanding, I try to bring players from both continents together. For this aim, the Liège event offers a suitable platform.

    How freight forwarders navigate volatile environments

    Marcel Schoeters
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    How freight forwarders navigate volatile environments

    How can freight forwarders balance efficiency, resilience and growth opportunities in an increasingly unstable market? That was the lead question of a panel discussion at the EU CBEC in Liège, last week.

    From left: Asok Kumar, Henk Venema, Stefan Krikken, Or Zak, Marten Wormer (moderator) – pictures: CFG/ms

    Moderator Maarten Wormer asked if the strategy to work with different gateways in Europe still stands and, if so, whether it is better to use smaller or larger gateways. Henk Venema, Executive VP Global Airfreight at DHL Global Forwarding, answered that you need capacity as well as volume, and that bigger gateways will always be more effective.
    Or Zak, CCO of Challenge Group, testified on the group’s long-standing (30 years) relationship with Liège Airport. He was seconded by Mr Venema, who said that airports serving both passengers and cargo, will let passengers prevail. “You need to find a place where you can influence the process. That is why we prefer airports such as Liège, Leipzig or Cincinnati.”
    Speaking from an Asian point of view, Asok Kumar, CEO of Taiwan-headquartered forwarder, Morrison Express, said that his company is actually looking at this model, even if Singapore has always been important. “We are evaluating other, regional gateways, and we are agile enough to adapt. However, ground handling is an important factor for us.” Contrary to forwarders, airlines have less flexibility, Or Zak put in. “Secondary airports may be the best solution, as the logistics community will work with you. On the geopolitical side, things get more complicated. In the end, you have to go where the cargo is.”

    Henk Venema sent a toxic greeting across the big pond.

    Thank you, Mr. Trump
    DHL’s Venema thinks that the industry may be blinding itself too much with the geopolitical issue. “As long as Mr. Trump is in office, business will do well. We are always following geopolitical trends and we’re doing very well because of all these rules and regulations imposed by him.”
    The debaters were convinced that there will always be a role for SME companies, especially as specialization will be the buzz word. “You cannot excel in everything,” said Henk Venema.

    Know your markets
    According to Stefan Krikken, DSV’s Global Head of Airfreight, you really need a good strategy which involves a yearly assessment of the market, especially as regarding infrastructure and capacity. To which Mr Kumar added that flexibility will become more important. “And gateways are one way of doing this.”
    Henk Venema confirmed: “People are sometimes either overrating or underestimating capacity. In the total scheme of things, you have assets to deploy where you can make profit. Today, the balance is completely gone. U.S. exports have never been so low, imports have never been so high.”


    Battle is on the ground
    For an airline, deploying aircraft by combining locations may be a solution. “So, you have to know your traffic rights,” said Challenge executive, Or Zak. DSV’s Krikken thinks that a gateway approach is a long-term strategy. “Just look at Panalpina and its commitment to Luxembourg.” Henk Venema is convinced that the battle is on the ground, not in the air. “If we don’t invest more in efficient ground handling in some airports around the world, infrastructure will take us by surprise.”

    e-commerce: Are the Golden Days over?

    Heiner Siegmund
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    e-commerce: Are the Golden Days over?

    Instead of a jubilant mood, a more subdued tone prevailed among airlines, airports, and other industry representatives at this year’s EU CBEC industry meeting, hosted by Liège Airport. The reason: e-commerce business in Europe has been contracting since 01JUN26, because of the EU’s €3 customs tariff payable per micro-shipment, which has been in effect since then. In addition to declining volumes, a shift in traffic flows is also becoming apparent. This trend was also discussed in Liège.

    The numbers don’t lie. In JUL26, e-commerce shipment volumes handled in Europe fell by 24%. This negative trend gathered speed during the first three weeks of AUG26. Those were the findings presented by Ryan Keyrouse, CEO of Netherlands-based software provider and strategy consulting firm, Rotate. According to his figures, the volume of small packages valued at less than €150 and unloaded at Madrid Airport (MAD) during the first three weeks of AUG26, fell by 78% compared to the same period last year. Prague (PRG) reported a decline of 80%, Budapest (BUD) -58%, Liège (LGG) -35%, and Amsterdam (AMS) -28%. Frankfurt (FRA) spoke of -16% and Malpensa (MXP) -15%. Only Cologne/Bonn (CGN) and Paris (CDG) reported growth figures, (+25% CGN / +12% CDG). Although the downward trend has since leveled off, volumes remain at a rather low level. Major Chinese airports have also been hit by contracting e-commerce exports flown to Europe. At Beijing (PEK) it was -43%, Chongqing (CKG) reports -32%, Ezhou (EHU) -51%, Hong Kong (HKG) -28%, and Shanghai (PVG) -18% for the period outlined.

    Bryan Keyrouse, CEO Rotate – photo: courtesy of Lemon-Queen

    A loss of 5,000 cargo flights is becoming apparent
    For an industry accustomed to success and to the constant growth of e-commerce – interrupted only by the U.S. de minimis rule in 2025 – these are alarming figures. Freight forwarders therefore expect the decline in small shipments from the Far East to the EU to average -30% in the near future. This will have an impact on available capacity which, according to a Rotate analysis, is expected to decline by approximately 5,000 freighter flights per year on the Far East–Europe routes.
    This trend is likely to affect the e-commerce hubs in Liège and Budapest, in particular, while airports located in non-EU countries – such as those in Norway, Switzerland, and the UK – are expected to benefit as demand shifts out of the EU. These shifts in traffic are likely to have lasting negative effects on e-commerce hubs in core Europe. At the same time, e-commerce flows will seek out new markets, primarily in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, according to analyst Rotate.

    Fulfillment centers are emerging as alternatives
    “The €3 duty fee will also reshape how China ships to Europe,” Rotate predicts, citing a report from Carra Globe out in APR26. In its analysis, the U.K.-based global trade logistics and compliance company forecasts that Shein, Temu, Shaoke and Co. will shift their supply chains to local EU warehouses instead of shipping individual orders direct from Chinese producers to European consumers. Alternatively, they will move bulk inventory into EU-based fulfilment centers, where individual orders are fulfilled domestically, in this way converting millions of individual cross-border customs events into a small number of large commercial imports.

    Come November it will be €3 + €2 = €5
    The outlook for the e-commerce business in Europe, as outlined by Keyrouse in his keynote address, is therefore rather sobering for the industry. The days of nearly limitless growth in low-cost small shipments under €150 value – with which Chinese manufacturers have been flooding European markets – seem to be over. Whether the decline in volumes is merely a temporary dip or if only moderate business growth will happen in the near future, is expected to become clear as early as NOV26. Then, the EU will introduce a €2 handling fee in addition to the €3 customs tariff, which will make shipments significantly more expensive.

    “E-commerce remains a key driver of growth for our airport,” pronounced Frederic Brun, LGG’s VP Sales & Marketing at the EU CBEC conference – photo: CFG/hs

    Modest optimism
    As for the medium-term outlook, Rotate’s market analysts are cautiously optimistic. They point to the de minimis shock in the U.S. in mid-2025, based on the § 321 Tariff Act of 1930, and a similar trend in Brazil. In both cases, it took about a year for business to recover and pick up slightly again. Surveys conducted by the analyst among EU companies revealed that the majority believe volumes will rebound after six months, while only about 20% forecast that it will decline even further.
    Be that as it may, Liège will stick to its masterplan. “E-commerce is no longer a niche business but a pillar of growth. Our vision has not changed: By 2040, we will be a top European cargo airport,” exclaimed Frederic Brun, VP Sales & Marketing, in his welcoming address to the attendees of the EU CBEC conference. In 2025, Liège handled 1,324,579 tons of cargo, up from 1,162,935 tons in 2024.

    Toepsch heads Fraport Cargo

    Heiner Siegmund
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    Toepsch heads Fraport Cargo

    Effective immediately, Felix Toepsch is taking over as head of Fraport’s Cargo Development Team. He follows Denis de Faria Duarte, who assumed this role on 01JAN25. The 32-year-old will thus be primarily responsible for the further development of Frankfurt Airport’s cargo business, which includes large infrastructure projects. He will continue to lead the Air Cargo Community Frankfurt as an interim solution.

    Felix Toepsch has become Fraport Airport’s new VP Cargo. Picture: Fraport AG

    “With Felix Toepsch, we are gaining an experienced colleague for this important role, who has known Frankfurt as an air cargo hub for many years and has a broad network within the cargo community,” states Dietmar Focke, Chief Operating Officer of Fraport AG. “He will leverage his experience in business development, digitalization, and process optimization to further develop the hub and capitalize on growth opportunities in the cargo business.” Fraport is Europe’s leading cargo hub by volumes but has lately been surpassed by Istanbul’s new airport located on the shores of the Black Sea.

    Toepsch, who holds a degree in economics, has been with Fraport AG since 2013. In various roles, he has focused on business and process development as well as innovation projects, among other things. He organized the Air Cargo Conference (ACCF) held last week and attended by roughly 400 participants. CargoForwarder Global covered the trade show in detail.

    Still undecided who succeeds Toepsch as helm of the ACCF
    Toepsch became CEO of the Air Cargo Community Frankfurt e.V. in JAN23 and managed to significantly increase the association’s membership. He told CFG that he will continue to lead the ACCF in the interim until a new CEO is appointed. Currently, more than 115 companies are members of the club, and the number is constantly increasing.  As ACCF CEO, he has worked closely with companies and institutions across the entire air cargo supply chain and represented the interests of the 115+ companies in the Air Cargo Community Frankfurt. In doing so, he championed the further development of Frankfurt as a leading European air cargo hub. Among other things, he drove the growth of the Cargo Community and helped implement process and standardization measures for air cargo at the location, such as the introduction of a shared slot booking system for trucks.

    Beyond Fraport and the Air Cargo Community, Toepsch is also active in national and European association affairs.

    Fraport’s Cargo Development team focuses on the further development and implementation of the Cargo Master Plan for the digitization and optimization of cargo processes, infrastructure development, and site marketing, in collaboration with partners at Rhine-Main. This includes a massive expansion of the cargo infrastructure. The airport operator’s long-term goal is to increase the annual air cargo volume by about 50%, to over three million metric tons and to secure Frankfurt’s position as a leading European cargo hub.

    Part of the plan is the construction of a new multi-tenant logistics facility in the Cargo CityNorth area, as well as the development of 43,000 m² of additional air cargo space with direct access to the airport apron and another 20,000 m² for ground handling processes.

    Elroy Air successfully pilots first uncrewed eIPP flights

    Brigitte Gledhill
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    Elroy Air successfully pilots first uncrewed eIPP flights
    Elroy Air’s first uncrewed autonomous flight under U.S. DOT and FAA’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP). Image: Elroy Air

    Autonomous heavy-cargo drones are a significant step closer to becoming a commercial reality (across the Gulf Coast: Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi), as U.S.-based Elroy Air recently completed a series of flights over the course of a week in Houma, Louisiana. These were its first autonomous, uncrewed flights authorized under the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP), operated by the drone developer’s Chaparral – an autonomous hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft with a payload of 500+ lbs [c. 227 kgs] and maximum range of 450 miles – in partnership with LIFTOFF Louisiana, and Bristow Group. Carrying a range of cargo, including packages and parcels, medical supplies, toolboxes with spare parts, food and jerry cans of water, the drones proved their use for commercial operations, defense logistics, tactical resupply, as well as humanitarian aid. To date, over 1,400 are on order and the first is due for delivery before the end of this year.

    Elroy Air CEO, Dr. Andrew Clare, detailed: “Over the course of the week, Chaparral flew autonomously and with no pilot on board from one of the nation’s busiest airports for rotorcraft under Air Traffic Control oversight [bringing us] closer to fulfilling our mission: moving heavy cargo autonomously, safely, and at scale for commercial operations. Through the eIPP, we’re working closely with the FAA as well as local and state officials to shape how uncrewed cargo aircraft operate in the National Airspace System.”

    Josh Duplantis, Advanced Aeronautics Director at the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, said: “I witnessed Chaparral fly at Houma–Terrebonne Airport under air traffic control. It was a disciplined, safe operation – and exactly the kind of work this program is meant to produce.”

    FAA Administrator, Bryan Bedford, added: “This demonstration with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development and Elroy Air provides data to help turn these concepts from trial to deployment [and shows] how these new aircraft can expand cargo delivery options to communities nationwide and improve our logistics infrastructure.”

    Dave Stepanek, Bristow Executive Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer, commented: “Our energy and government services customers need low-risk, high-tempo options for moving critical cargo across the Gulf Coast, and that’s exactly what Chaparral delivers. Louisiana is our core U.S. base of operations, and these flights bring us closer to offering our customers new ways to move freight offshore and across the region.”

    Avianca carries 500+ tons of aid to Colombia

    Brigitte Gledhill
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    Avianca carries 500+ tons of aid to Colombia
    Bringing rescue teams, aid and emergency equipment to those in need. Image: Avianca

    Avianca, part of Grupo Abra, has mobilized one of the airline sector’s largest relief operations in response to Colombia’s ongoing emergency. Since the crisis began, the carrier has transported more than 500 tons of humanitarian aid via cargo aircraft and its regular passenger network, alongside over 230 rescue and medical personnel to priority-affected areas. In total, more than 60 flights – including complimentary cargo operations, passenger services, and charters – have been deployed to support these efforts.

    Grupo Abra’s combined resources played a key role: a Boeing 737 from São Paulo was used to operate two cargo flights between Bogotá and Armenia, while a logistics partnership with fellow Abra airline, GOL, allowed Avianca to deliver 40 tons of aid and operate its first-ever B737 freighter flight into Armenia Airport. The airline also established a daily logistics process delivering aid to Quibdó, and facilitated international contributions, including over 10 tons of assistance from the governments of Spain and France. In addition, Avianca supported transportation for fundraising initiatives such as the ‘Voces por la Vida’ [Voices for Life] concert and a charity football match. Avianca says it remains committed to supporting Colombia’s recovery.

    Ángela María Orozco, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Aviance, underlined: “The scale of this emergency has required the coordination of capabilities both within and beyond Colombia. Facilitating the arrival of international aid and the transportation of specialized personnel, demonstrates the role an airline network can play when its purpose extends beyond operations to focus on connecting aid, capabilities and opportunities for those who need them most.”

    Thai Airways chooses CHAMP’s Cargospot CMS

    Brigitte Gledhill
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    Thai Airways chooses CHAMP’s Cargospot CMS
    Thai Airways implements CHAMP’s Cargospot for digital excellence. Image: Thai Airways

    CHAMP Cargosystems has gained another leading Asian airline as a customer for its Cargospot neo suite, built on its neo Platform. Thai Airways International is focused on improving its customer experience through more efficient operations – which, of course, are made possible by digital transformation. Greater digital control over what is happening across its cargo operations also means more stable and sustainable growth, and a better chance in the competitive industry environment. CHAMP’s neo Platform uses API-native architecture with embedded AI, connecting THAI’s commercial, operational, and financial functions in real time. Customers benefit from faster bookings, real-time tracking, and more transparency. Cargospot neo enables automation-driven cargo management across the entire cargo journey.

    THAI has also adopted Cargospot neo Revenue Management, which offers demand forecasting and dynamic pricing on the basis of what it has learned through existing data. This allows THAI to optimize revenues, taking into account competitiveness and profitability factors.

    Overall, Cargospot new covers sales, reservations, handling, warehousing, load planning, revenue management, and analytics in a single, connected system. Fragmented workflows are replaced by a single source of truth – reducing manual work and improving reliability.

    Surapon Pisutpattana, Managing Director of THAI Cargo Terminal Service at Thai Airways, stated: “Selecting CHAMP and Cargospot neo as our Cargo Management System (CMS) was a natural choice as we continue to accelerate our digital transformation. Our longstanding partnership through Traxon cargoHUB has consistently demonstrated CHAMP’s reliability and commitment to service excellence. We have also seen first-hand how Cargospot enhances operational efficiency, with leading cargo operators in Thailand achieving new levels of performance through the platform. By adopting the CHAMP neo Platform, we are taking another significant step forward—connecting our operations in real time, strengthening our ability to manage capacity and demand more dynamically, and delivering a more responsive, customer-centric cargo experience.”

    Manuel Galindo, CEO at CHAMP, said: “With the Cargospot neo suite and the addition of Cargospot neo Revenue Management, THAI are investing in a scalable, future-ready platform that will strengthen their competitiveness, support their growth ambitions, and enable them to deliver exceptional value to their customers in an increasingly digital and demanding air cargo market.”

    DHL acquires Uruguay’s Aero Cargas S.A.

    Brigitte Gledhill
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    DHL acquires Uruguay’s Aero Cargas S.A.
    Erik Meade, CEO DHL Global Forwarding Latin America and Natalia Menotti, Vice President, Aero Cargas. Image: DHL Group

    DHL Global Forwarding has acquired the Uruguayan logistics and freight forwarding company, Aero Cargas S.A., strengthening its presence across Latin America and creating its first foothold in the country. The move gives DHL access to Uruguay’s strategic location connecting Mercosur, North America, and international markets, supported by the country’s Free Port framework and deep-water infrastructure – helping address global trade route disruptions.

    A partner of DHL since 33 years, Aero Cargas S.A. brings 58 years of South American logistics experience in air and ocean freight, project logistics, land transport, and multimodal services, plus strengths in Free Trade Zone operations and pharmaceutical logistics. The acquisition boosts DHL’s Life Sciences & Healthcare capabilities and industrial project logistics, and stands to benefit from Uruguay’s growing data center sector, which requires specialized logistics for equipment like cooling systems and technology components. Aero Cargas S.A. will join DHL’s PAC cluster (Peru-Ecuador-Argentina-Chile), led by Eduardo Rodrigues, with all employees transitioning to DHL Global Forwarding.

    Oscar de Bok, CEO DHL Global Forwarding: “Latin America is becoming increasingly important as companies diversify supply chains and strengthen regional distribution networks. With Aero Cargas S.A., we are establishing DHL Global Forwarding’s first direct presence in Uruguay and are adding a strategic logistics platform that enhances connectivity across the Americas. Beyond expanding our geographic footprint, Aero Cargas S.A. strengthens our capabilities in Life Sciences & Healthcare, Free Trade Zone logistics and industrial project forwarding.”

    Erik Meade, CEO DHL Global Forwarding Latin America: “[This] accelerates the execution of our dedicated Life Sciences & Healthcare strategy. In 2025, DHL Group announced an investment plan of EUR 2 billion, [10% of which in Latin America]. Establishing a direct presence in Montevideo allows us to place part of that investment where our healthcare customers need these services most. More than USD 1 billion worth of pharmaceuticals moves through Uruguay annually [and as it] serves as a key regional distribution hub for active ingredients and finished products arriving from Europe and North America to be reprocessed, repackaged, and re-exported to markets like Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Colombia, this step ensures our clients can immediately tap into our specialized capabilities to navigate Latin America’s most critical supply chains.” Natalia Sadurskas, General Manager of Aero Cargas S.A, stated: “Joining DHL Global Forwarding marks an exciting new chapter for our employees and customers. Together, we will be able to offer even greater reach, operational excellence, and service solutions across Latin America and globally.”

    ACS Germany announces appointment of Timo Kaden

    Brigitte Gledhill
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    ACS Germany announces appointment of Timo Kaden
    Timo Kaden is ACS Germany’s Cargo Business Development Director. Image: ACS

    Air Charter Service announced this week, that it has appointed local, Frankfurt-based Timo Kaden to head its ACS Germany office in Frankfurt as the Cargo Business Development Director for Germany. He was chosen on account of his long-standing experience and strong industry network across Germany.

    Caroline Werf, CEO ACS Germany, commented: “Timo brings with him 30 years of logistics expertise – he has worked for some of the biggest names in freight forwarding and has a wealth of contacts in the airfreight business. For the last 19 years, he has worked in cargo aircraft chartering, both on the operational and sales sides, giving him a broad knowledge across every aspect of charter. In recent years, we have significantly increased our presence in Germany, and we now have four offices across the country: in Munich, Cologne, Stuttgart and here, in Frankfurt. Timo’s experience will help build and guide our growing team of cargo experts, with his vast knowledge and expertise.”

    Timo Kaden stated: “I have worked in the cargo business in Germany for my entire career and am looking forward to starting this new chapter building on business relationships across the country. We have an amazing cargo team here and I’m looking forward to working closely with them going forward.”

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