Mr. Smith Goes To Wanting Tons

     In Dubai in the cargo area the Airport Free Zone is an ever-expanding on-operation in a building that the big ground handler DNATA has created into one hell of an interesting multi-tenant international air cargo facility.
     Upstairs several languages swirl above the steady pace of activity inside and out into hallways with doors to offices housing a growing, fascinating bunch of air cargo entrepreneurs.
     Downstairs a multi-faceted operations and semi-automated handling facility that rivals the best in the business, hosts aircraft of 100 different logos and variety in around the clock operations.
     About the only break in all of this is either to meander over to the lobby snack bar for a dosa or one of a growing list of international snacks and meals that serve to satisfy the needs of people from India, Sri Lanka, Iraq, CIS, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan most of Europe, Turkey and even Kansas City, Missouri.
     One other event that can stop the place cold for a few minutes each day is prayer time.
     At a couple of places on the ground floor prayer rugs are neatly rolled up and carefully stacked by their owners.
     But what it is about the Airport Free Zone are people who daily do business here.
     Once upstairs we duck into the offices of Air Cargo Integrators where we meet Managing Director Lionel Smith.
     Lionel is a big guy, maybe about six foot five or maybe even six.
     He looks like he could be playing basketball if he wanted.
     Lionel is easily the tallest guy on the block around or above here and maybe in all of Dubai.
     Lionel is also an air cargo specialist with a quick smile and an easy smooth and always decent demeanor about him.
     ACI may get into some sticky situations but Lionel seems to be at the helm, right place at the right time to get the job done.
     “Over the years, we’ve carried out many successful cargo charter flights across the world, building up an extensive client list of satisfied blue chip companies who rely on our expertise in general, outsized projects, transit shipments, emergency relief, air drops in war torn zones, perishables, you name it.”
     At Dubai, ACI is a beehive team of professionals backed by premium infrastructure and facilities, who quietly go about their business.
     There is a feeling of competence about this place that says we can get the job done.
     “We are a total solutions company. ACI undertakes all aspects of airfreight operations from inception to destination, handling all requirements from airway bills, over flight permits, handling, fuelling to flight plans.
     “In other words nobody passes the buck here. We deliver period.”
     ACI offers consolidation and dispatch of cargo from the warehouse at Dubai Airport Free Zone to onward destinations via charter flights or scheduled flights or partner airlines.
     “A critical requirement—providing value added service to our customers is ACI offers storage with maximum security and professional handling in our 15,000 sq ft of warehouse here.
     “ACI’s market-driven reputation allows us in partnership with numerous multi-national freight and logistics agencies to provide a gamut of support services including third-party logistical support, outsize solutions and cargo distribution to areas not covered or serviced by commercial carriers.
     “But we also enjoy an excellent working relationship with all the major commercial carriers that have freighters operating from the UAE, providing our customers total comfort and security.
     “Our greatest strength we think, is our staff, always at hand, looking after business 24-7; keeping in touch with the progress of shipments on a one-to-one basis.
     “As example, we fly charter flights into Kabul, Afghanistan where Air Cargo Integrators Afghanistan Ltd. (ACIA) has tied up with WSI World Security Initiatives (WSI) Kabul, to deliver value added services including airport reception; trans-shipment i.e. air to air, sea to air, freight reception and door-to-door service from Baghdad and Erbil.
     “We also offer door-to-door delivery service within Afghanistan, from our bonded warehouse facility located on Jalalabad Road, Kabul.
     “We offer several weekly frequencies a week to Baghdad International Airport (BIAP).”
     We especially like that Lionel Smith is the result of a great opportunity taking place in the Middle East right now.
     He is an “Anglo-Indian” who gravitated to Dubai with more than 30 years of air cargo experience.
     “We move consignments such as fish from Lake Victoria all the way to Japan,” he says, and you get right away that Lionel is very ambitious, looking for connections everywhere in the world.
     “The world in 2007 is very much a trader’s dream, a wide open market almost everywhere.
     “The possibilities are endless,” he beams.
     His look tells you Lionel is out to secure all the business he can.
www.aircargointegrators.com.
Geoffrey