From 26OCT25 on, FlyUs Aviation Group (FlyUs) is Riyadh Air’s GSA for the UK and Ireland as well as covering offline services to forwarders in the Benelux. The start of the agreement, which includes sales, customer support, and capacity management, also signifies the start of the new airline’s daily Boeing 787-9 services to London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR). The Saudi airline is on a fast-track to growth and set to connect Riyadh (RUH) with 100 global destinations within the next five years. This is in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 which looks to facilitate international trade and logistics.

Carlo de Haas, President and Chief Executive Officer, FlyUs, said: “It is rare to see a new airline commence daily widebody operations into Heathrow, so being involved from the first departure is a real privilege. This appointment is a testament to FlyUs’s proven track record in cargo sales and our commitment to delivering market-leading representation. This partnership offers the market direct and reliable access into Saudi Arabia, a market of growing importance for manufacturing, e-commerce, perishable, and high-value logistics.

FlyUs owns and operates its own trucking fleet, providing daily temperature-controlled services to and from the Benelux and the UK. For our forwarder clients in Europe, this means they will be able to benefit from Riyadh Air’s new route to Heathrow via our road feeder services.”

Pravin Singh, Head of Cargo at Riyadh Air, added: “The appointment of FlyUs marks the beginning of a strong partnership built on shared ambition and operational excellence. Their local expertise and proven track record will help us deliver Riyadh Air’s promise of dependable, customer-focused cargo solutions across the UK and Ireland.”

In other news: FlyUs won Air Cargo News’ GSSA of the Year Award for the sixth time running, last week. James Gidlow, Group Commercial Director, FlyUs, accredited this to the strength of its global business partnerships, saying: “Our teams consistently go above and beyond for our customers, and it’s their commitment that keeps FlyUs at the forefront of this industry. As the market evolves, so does FlyUs; we’re continually investing in smarter processes and customer-focused solutions to ensure our customers receive true long-term value, and this award is a testament to that.”

Menzies Aviation, TAAG Angola Airlines, and Sociedade Gestora de Aeroportos (SGA) have signed a new strategic agreement to launch Menzies Aviation Angola, Lda., reinforcing Angola’s position as a rising aviation hub in Africa. The partnership is set to deliver quality ground handling, cargo, and airport services across Angola, and fuel operational excellence at the newly opened Dr. António Agostinho Neto International Airport in Luanda.

Menzies will bring high safety and service standards to the Angolan market. TAAG’s involvement as a shareholder signals strong national commitment to long-term, sustainable aviation growth. SGA contributes key infrastructure and local expertise as Angola’s main airport network operator. Operating under the new company, the partners aim to offer efficient services for airlines, cargo operators, and passengers, supporting Angola’s expanding aviation market and economic ambitions. Building on a prior joint venture with SGA since 2023, the latest agreement underscores collaboration with government and industry players to develop a modern, competitive aviation ecosystem and lasting value for the country.

Charles Wyley, Executive Vice President – MEAA, Menzies Aviation, explained: “By uniting Menzies’ global expertise with TAAG’s national significance and SGA’s local leadership, Menzies Aviation Angola is well positioned to deliver world-class safety, service and innovation while supporting the economic ambitions of Angola. We are proud to deepen our partnership in Angola and contribute to a new era of aviation services across the country.”

Clóvis Rosa, Chairman of TAAG Angola Airlines, added: “TAAG’s entry as a shareholder in Menzies Aviation Angola reflects our strategic vision for the future of aviation in Angola. By combining Menzies’ global operational excellence with TAAG’s deep understanding of the domestic and regional market, we are investing in growth and strengthening Angola’s role as a key aviation gateway in Africa.”

Silk Way Group and dnata have launched a joint venture to develop comprehensive ground handling and cargo operations at the upcoming Alat International Airport in Azerbaijan. The partnership marks a major step in the country’s plan to become a regional logistics powerhouse.

Set to begin operations in APR27, the new venture draws on dnata’s global expertise in air services and Silk Way Group’s strong foothold in regional aviation and logistics. The new airport will be equipped with state-of-the-art cargo facilities capable of handling more than 400,000 tons annually, with projected growth of 5% per year. To begin with, the partnership will be centered around cargo and ground handling, with plans to expand into catering, freight forwarding, de‑icing, and other services, effectively creating a one‑stop aviation services hub for airlines and airport customers. Around 1,000 new jobs will be created, and the project will foster long‑term workforce development in Azerbaijan’s aviation sector. dnata already supports Silk Way West Airlines in five countries, handling 1,150 flights and 85,000 tons of cargo each year.

Steve Allen, CEO of dnata, stated: “Our joint venture with the Silk Way Group is an important step in expanding dnata’s global footprint and supporting the Caucasus region’s rapid growth. Baku’s new airport will be a critical hub for cargo flows in the region, and our investment ensures that airlines and logistics partners have access to safe, quality, and reliable services from day one. Beyond operational excellence, this venture reflects our long-term strategy to provide integrated aviation solutions in high-potential markets. We look forward to continuing our successful partnership with Silk Way Group to support Azerbaijan’s aviation and logistics industries, businesses and wider communities.”

Zaur Akhundov, President of Silk Way Group, commented: “Our partnership with dnata marks a new milestone in the development of Azerbaijan’s aviation industry. Together, we are shaping a modern ecosystem that will connect the Alat Free Economic Zone with the global aviation and logistics network. This joint venture represents not only an investment in infrastructure but also in people — creating new jobs, developing professional skills, and building a foundation for sustainable growth. The establishment of aviation services at Alat International Airport is a strategic step toward realizing our vision of transforming Azerbaijan into a leading regional hub.”

cargo.one has launched a new suite of AI-driven tools designed to help freight forwarders manage the surge in shipments during the 2025 peak season. The Berlin-based digital platform introduced five productivity features aimed at boosting operational speed, accuracy, and scale. The update includes enhanced AI-powered quoting, which generates high-quality, ready-to-share quotes that mirror expert decisions and significantly cut response times. A new Tender Feeder tool streamlines multi-lane rate procurement, turning a process that once took days into minutes. At the operational core is the new Rate Engine – a centralized system that brings buy, internal, and sell rates into one interface for consistent pricing control. Complementary features such as Sales Profiles and Quoting Insights further enhance efficiency, automating customer-specific pricing and providing real-time analytics on conversion rates, response times, and route performance. Built on cargo.one’s data-driven technology platform, the release targets a persistent industry challenge: handling high-volume demand without increasing headcount. With this rollout, the company positions itself as a critical partner for forwarders seeking to stay agile and profitable under seasonal pressure. All five tools are now available globally, reinforcing cargo.one’s role in accelerating the digital maturity of air freight operations.

Robert Frei, Global SVP of Freight Forwarding Operations at DP World, revealed: “We’re developing in-house tools that deliver more options and faster service to our customers. As part of this, we’re partnering with cargo.one to aggregate airline rates directly into our systems. This collaboration enhances our digital connectivity and ensures that our quoting tool has access to consistent, high-quality rate information, an essential step in strengthening the customer experience we’re building.”

Christopher Ziller, Operations Manager, Airfreight at QCS-Quick Cargo Service, commented: “cargo.one’s AI quotes are spot-on – we rarely need to make changes, saving significant time while maintaining control over customer communication. This frees our team for tasks with higher financial value, such as complex shipments that need deeper attention and, more importantly, business development.”

Moritz Claussen, Founder and Co-CEO of cargo.one, concluded: “We continue to invest heavily in AI automation, but also on the foundation that enables AI to deliver value. The October Release reflects our philosophy: advanced tools are only as good as the data behind them. By building upon our industry-leading rate database, we deliver capabilities no one else can match.”

ECS Group has named João Ferreira as Regional Commercial Director for the Americas, marking a significant move in its push to strengthen its presence across a fast-evolving air cargo region. With 30 years of GSSA experience under his belt. Ferreira can draw on his deep industry knowledge and proven leadership. He will oversee commercial operations in North and Latin America, balancing the maturity of established U.S. markets with the strong growth potential of emerging economies to build a unified regional network.

Ferreira’s focus will be on expanding airline partnerships, deepening engagement with freight forwarders, and driving smarter decision-making through ECS Group’s suite of digital tools. His appointment aligns with the company’s goal of enhancing commercial agility and delivering sustainable growth across the Americas, a continuing to lead in all things GSSA across the region.

João Ferreira, Regional Commercial Director – Americas, ECS Group, announced: “My mission is to deliver our partner airlines’ commercial targets while providing an outstanding customer experience. The Americas offer significant opportunities, and we will focus on strengthening relationships, building strong leadership teams, and empowering our people to achieve tangible results.”

Jean Ceccaldi, CEO, ECS Group, emphasized: “João’s appointment underlines ECS Group’s commitment to global leadership through experienced, forward-looking commercial management. His deep knowledge of the Americas and strong customer relationships make him the ideal leader to advance our growth in this vital region.”

Air France KLM Martinair Cargo (AFKLMP) has achieved three major milestones in its commercial transformation: surpassing 90% digital bookings, completing its global CRM360 rollout, and expanding the success of its PLUS service.

Driven by its myCargo platform, 91% of AFKLMP’s bookings are now made digitally – the result of eight years of innovation and a clear multichannel strategy. This achievement underscores strong customer adoption and highlights AFKLMP’s leadership in digital air cargo services. The airline group also finalized the global deployment of CRM360, the unified customer management system that it developed together with Salesforce. After a 16-month implementation phase, CRM260 is now active across 68 service stations. Cairo was the last station to go live recently, bringing the roll-out to an end. According to the release, CRM360 enhances responsiveness, collaboration, and customer experience while laying the foundation for future AI-driven capabilities.

AFKLMP’s PLUS service has also quickly gained momentum since its launch two years ago. Offering priority loading and rapid recovery for shipments, PLUS has earned high customer loyalty – more than 90% of users say they would rebook. Available network-wide via myCargo or local teams, it strengthens AFKLMP’s reputation for reliability and customer focus. Together, these milestones mark significant progress in AFKLMP’s ongoing transformation toward smarter, more connected air cargo services.

GertJan Roelands, SVP Commercial at Air France KLM Martinair Cargo, said: “Reaching 91% digital bookings, completing the global rollout of CRM360, and seeing the strong customer uptake of PLUS all reflect the same ambition — making it easier and more reliable for customers to do business with us. These milestones are part of the broader commercial transformation we began five years ago. They show that by combining technology, service, and innovation, we can create real value for our customers and the industry. Our roadmap continues. We aim to give customers a B2B experience with the ease of a B2C environment — doing business with us should be fast, transparent, and simple, empowering customers to stay in control 24/7. Ultimately, our goal is to deliver the best possible experience in the industry.”

Since 20OCT25, charter specialist, Chapman Freeborn has a new Group CEO: Saska Gerasimova follows in the footsteps of Eric Erbacher, who has transitioned into his new function as Chair of the Chapman Freeborn Holdings Board of Directors. He spent over 5 years at the helm of the company, during which Chapman Freeborn underwent much development and diversification – something it will continue to do so under its new leadership. Heralded as “a transformative milestone” according to the company press release, reflecting “the company’s commitment to bold renewal, strategic clarity, and global impact. By appointing a new CEO, Chapman Freeborn embraces fresh perspectives, empowers its teams, and reinforces its long-term vision – ensuring the organization remains agile, customer-focused, and ready for the future of aviation.”

Saska Gerasimova has almost two decades’ worth of experience in travel, charter and aviation leasing, supply chain and fleet management, having worked for Aviation Consultant, Travel Service/SmartWings, and most recently, Amazon Air Europe where she was Senior Supply Chain Manager for the past three years. That experience can now flow into her new role as the company continues to focus on matching its service offer with customer requirements. She works together with Group COO, Bernardo Nunes, now responsible for legal directorships within the group’s subsidiaries, and the Executive Committee. “Regarding the Board of Directors, Russi Batliwala will remain on the board and provide essential guidance and continuity,” the release clarifies.

Saska Gerasimova, Chapman Freeborn’s incoming Group CEO, stated: “Chapman Freeborn has a well-defined long-term strategy oriented around our 2030 plan. Achieving our aims will require a clear focus on customers, strategic delivery, and market presence. I look forward to building close, trust-based relationships with our clients, and to supporting the team in our ongoing development while facilitating strong connections across our organization. I will be travelling regularly to our regional hubs to meet with our experienced professionals and gain a deep understanding of local operations in each of our locations.”

Eric Erbacher, outgoing Group CEO and Chair of the Chapman Freeborn Holdings Board of Directors, commented: “In my new role, I look forward to having a greater capacity for focusing on customer engagement, closing material deals, and driving our long-term strategy. I am delighted to welcome Saska to Chapman Freeborn and look forward to working together with her on further strengthening our already robust global operations.”