Chris Giving Cargo The Air

     A bright and fresh air cargo face across the Americas is Chris Buscemi, general manager, the Americas for Lufthansa Cargo Charter.
     Chris is also that rarest of individuals, an air cargo executive who also can pilot an airplane.
     A New York City native, Chris recalls:
     “I started flying, in fact soloed in a small aircraft when I was just sixteen.
     “At that time I was too young to get my automobile operators permit, so my folks would ferry me over to Teterboro Airport where I learned to fly.”
     Chris who piloted an airplane before he drove a car admits he has little time to soar about the heavens recreationally any more, while building the fortunes of Lufthansa Cargo Charter.
     “Some in air cargo might like to know that we are a non-asset based company registered in America as a U.S. corporation that leverages both expertise and equipment of Lufthansa and also a host of aircraft providers depending on the need.
     “Today Lufthansa Cargo is in fact several companies.”
     Turns out Lufthansa Cargo Charter is a 100 % subsidiary of Lufthansa Cargo with head office in Kelsterbach next to Rhein-Main Airport Frankfurt and competence centers in Chicago and Hong Kong.
     When Lufthansa Cargo Charter turned into an independent business in 2001 the “initial capital“ consisted of 25 years experience in the market part, gained via the German Air Cargo brand and fleet operation.
    “We combine this know-how with flexibility and technical innovation.
     “But our greatest asset may be our employees, reliable and flexible, who manage any transport challenge since all of them are top professionals full of creativity and effort.
     “Bascially as a specialist for out of the ordinary cargo shipments, Lufthansa Cargo Charter adds to the product portfolio of Lufthansa Cargo.
     “But as a neutral broker we are free to not only utilize Lufthansa aircraft to meet demand, we are also free to search for the best and most affordable transportation solutions by utilizing equipment offered by other companies.
     “But underpinning our effort is a total hands on end to end service.
     “The Uplift Solution is complete air cargo management that maps out every movement long before the take-off with attention to detail that continues after landing.
     “In other words our target is not the destination airport but the complete satisfaction of our clients.

     “Our charter brokerage is separate unto itself offering services by request to more than 600 destinations worldwide.
     Our slogan “Uplift—No limit in time and space,” says it all.
     “We can make available both the immense technical knowledge and expertise needed to move any charter and also the attention to detail and extra measure of service that guarantees our service works.
     “Another increasingly important aspect of our business is the availability of partial or split charters.
     “Of course if a customer chooses a full charter from our transport solutions, there is always the complete aircraft reserved.
     “But Lufthansa Cargo Charter also offers variable transport solutions.
     “Accordingly our website www.lhcharter.com is an open portal to start the process for time-critical freight as well as for our animal passengers and even more for relief goods.
     “And if it comes to special needs we manage those with a good amount of creativity.
     “So our charter product meets the need moving large and small, fast and special freight not only as full charter but also as split charter, charter chain or in combination.
     Chris Buscemi is based inside a business complex at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois.
     He has been out on the front lines as both the public face and go to action guy for Lufthansa Cargo Charter for the past two and half years.
     But if his passion for flight began when younger, it blossomed attending the Embry Riddle University in Daytona Beach, Florida where an avocation for flight was transformed into a vocation once and for all.
     Chris has served with Pan American Clipper Cargo and later with TG Shown Aviation Consultants, and Chapman Freeborn, and even did a stint with his own GSA operation before joining Lufthansa Cargo Charter.
     “This company is among the handful of truly great air cargo resources in the world today.
     “Uplift can offer our customers so many options while leveraging a culture for air cargo that has spanned the past 8o plus years.
     We wonder if all the travel and city-pairs sometimes on the same day leaves any time for perhaps getting back into the air?
     Chris who is an avid baseball fan admits his schedule has narrowed to an occasional game with his wife Colette and the couple’s three boys.
   “I’m thinking about it now that the boys of summer are once again in Spring Training 2007,” Chris Buscemi smiles.
Geoffrey