Vol. 11 No. 74                                                                                                           Wednesday August 1, 2012

 

     Following FlyingTypers’ world exclusive report last week of high profile, top Delta Cargo executive leader Neel Shah suddenly leaving his post at the airline without warning, FlyingTypers has now learned that Ray Curtis, Managing Director Worldwide Sales (left), has been promoted to the post of VP Cargo as the shakeup of top management at the carrier continues.
     Mr. Curtis will report to Tony Charaf (right), who reportedly returns to the top cargo post at DL having served most recently as Delta Air Lines President Technical Operations.
     Mr. Charaf, a seasoned professional executive, had led Delta Cargo previously in 2000-04, during the era that saw change at the carrier, including overseeing Delta’s involvement in the formation of the U.S. Sales Joint Venture, the export arm of SkyTeam Cargo.
     As to why Mr. Shah has left the carrier, much is left to speculation and the airline has yet to confirm what everyone else seems to already know.
     After taking the helm at Delta Cargo in 2008, Mr. Shah is credited with revitalizing the division, first predicting he would boost volumes above $1 billion in 2010 and then delivering on the promise in 2012.
Geoffrey

 

 

     As the surprising changes at Delta Cargo play out, well-known industry consultant Stan Wraight—founder and chief officer at Strategic Aviation Solutions International (SASI)—went on the record with FlyingTypers to say he sees danger in so many top air cargo executives at U.S. legacy airlines who are departing the scene.
     The comments are part of a wider ranging article on the state of the industry in August 2012, to be published here next week.
It seems that everyone who raises their head in cargo becomes a target, or it looks like that to an outsider.
     The consequence is never good for the U.S. airline industry at all.
     Recent examples such as Scott Dolan at UAL, Jim McKeon at Continental, Dave Brooks at American, Jim Friedel at NWA and now Neel Shah at Delta bring to light that if the American airline industry truly accepted cargo as a core business, ways and means would be found to make sure all these people would still be involved, no matter what mergers and acquisitions take place.
     U.S.-based airlines need cargo representation in international organizations that steer our business like IATA, ICAO and others and that representation should not be just from the Integrators.
     If the U.S. scheduled airlines continue their current path of replacing key professionals, the Europeans and Asians will continue to steer the processes without any input at all from one of the largest markets in the world.
     New passenger aircraft with vast cargo carrying potential present a golden opportunity for U.S.-based airlines to take a much greater role in trade in the years to come and to do that cargo has to be taken seriously.
     I am anxiously awaiting the first American company that recognizes and puts their best and brightest people in cargo, and gives cargo the recognition and status within the company it deserves.
     When will we see a board seat for cargo, a "Chief Cargo Executive" at any of the U.S. based airlines?
    Look at the contribution cargo brings at Swiss, LH and Emirates demonstrating clearly that when cargo is elevated in profile within management, the results will flow.”
Geoffrey

 

 

     Cut capacity or air freight rates will remain in the cellar.
     There simply are too many aircraft for too little cargo
     Airline executives are stubborn.
     They hate to see their expensive, beautiful aircraft being flown to the desert and parked there. These desert parking areas should fill up with older, fuel-guzzling airplanes to get rates starting up again.

Julian Keeling
CEO
Consolidators International

 

 

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