Thor A Prince Of Air Cargo

     Today we report the very sad news of the unexpected passing of our good friend Thor Kjartansson on Saturday, November 17th.
     Thor died of a heart attack at age 55.
     Many of our readers might remember Thor from a time in the 1980’s when, as Regional VP of the Americas for Cargolux, he established the brand and the carrier’s presence here.
     It should also be remembered that Thor was instrumental in the founding of TIACA, as well as a consulting group named MergeGlobal.
     Thor was a very smart transportation guy who also happened to be a complete gentleman in every respect.
     During those days at CV the carrier had an abundance of great thinkers and doers and highly talented people, including Robert Arendal.
     People would joke that the “Iceland Mafia,” had its own cargo airline during those days..
     But Thor was our guy in America. He was a smart cookie and genuine sweetheart, the kind of person you almost never see, let alone get to know.
     After departing Cargolux, Thor kept on going by founding the regional all cargo carrier BlueBird Cargo, operating aircraft within Europe as well as to and from his home base in Iceland for integrators such as UPS and TNT.
     Thor was still heading up the company at the time of his passing and recently negotiated the sale of Bluebird Cargo to Iceland Air.
     Thor was a tall angular man with clear eyes and a vision that I always thought was way ahead of everybody else.
     In 1985 our publication Air Cargo News awarded Thor the highest honor as Cargo Executive Of The Year for Outstanding Contributions to Air Cargo.
     He was quiet and dignified and, as mentioned, always a complete gentleman.
     Thor stood for decency and principled behavior. He was kind and understanding and loved for many things.
     He always did what he thought was right without demanding that it be “his way or the highway.”
     The last time I saw Thor was a few years ago in Washington; nothing had changed.
     He knew that I didn’t care much for some things he thought were important but we were friends and that was all that really mattered.
     His friend, Paul J. Martins, President & Chief Operating Officer of Mercury Air Cargo, unlocks both the joy of Thor’s business acumen and friendship, and also the great sadness many of us feel right now.
     “I knew Thor in the 80's when he was with Cargolux and I was with UPS, we did many charter flights together using the CV aircraft during our heavy peak season as well as chartering Cargolux UPS aircraft when they needed lift.
     “I had the pleasure of knowing him even better when I retained his services as a consultant as we expanded our services in Europe in 1993.
     “Thor and I spent that year traveling throughout Europe setting up our gateways. We set up a GSA network as well as negotiated sales with the major European forwarders.
     “His knowledge of the cargo business and his visionary approach to our industry was surpassed only by the quality of this individual and the true gentleman he was.
     “At 55 he leaves us not only too young but with still so much left to offer.
     “His friendship, loyalty, keen business mind and devotion to our industry will be sorely missed by all of us who knew him.”
      Ram Menen, SVP Emirates SkyCargo said, “We’ve lost a great one, a true pioneer of air cargo. May God rest his soul.”
     But lest we leave Thor to the ages with only our expression of deepest appreciation, we must also appreciate in his own words what he brought to life and the air cargo table.
     In July 1983 we sat down with Thor in Miami, Florida, back when CV operated out of Building 2200. We wrote about that visit and some of the things this great man told us still resonate nearly 25 years later.

     “Cargolux is a non-IATA carrier.
     “Of course, we watch and monitor closely what the IATA carriers do, especially in terms of their rates.
      “I have always found it amusing, the time that’s spent discussing rates and tariffs that are totally unrealistic.
      “They have nothing to do with the market conditions at all.
      “Then these same people in these big, well-known companies, having spent days setting up their rates, make lower deals, whether they call it contract rates or whatever.
      “It’s amazing how they continue in this approach.
      “IATA is an interesting organization in terms of setting regulations, procedures and such, but not in terms of pricing and what the airlines do in the marketplace.
      “There are certain carriers who have set up pretty optimistic plans, acquiring a combi or widebody freighter aircraft that they frequently don’t know what to do with.
      “They put it on a route and give their cargo people instructions to fill these things.
      “The people go out and make all sorts of deals with low rates.
      “They chop the braces out from under the organizations they are supposed to be supporting.
      “I am always amazed by this.”

      It’s worth noting that at the time Thor spoke these words, his public relations counsel and advertising agency representative Garth Davies was in the room. Later Thor would be instrumental in the formation of TIACA and Garth served as that organization’s first secretary general. Although none of us would have preferred it, we suppose Garth who left us a few years ago and Thor are somewhere comparing notes.
      In a few days a holiday occurs in America, when people gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing at Thanksgiving.
      This year I am most thankful and grateful for having had the opportunity to know Thor Kjartansson.
      I may be mad as hell that he is gone, but now is the time to focus on how lucky we all were to know him.
      Our prayers and condolences go out to his wife Gudbjoerg, and his two sons, Kjartan and Skuli.
Geoffrey