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   Vol. 24  No. 11

Monday March 3, 2025

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Brittney Lovelace, Brian Akers, Novolette Brown, Michael Hatfield, Andy Kirschner, Polly Nugent and Mia Harley.
 March 2, Delta Air Lines celebrated 100 years.  The Delta Cargo Team at the Air Cargo 2025 conference from left to right Brittney Lovelace, Brian Akers, Novolette Brown, Michael Hatfield, Andy Kirschner, Polly Nugent and Mia Harley.

Andy Kirschner and Marga Kirschner     On Feb 4th, 2020 Andy Kirschner, Director Americas Sales, Cargo, Delta Air Lines sat with Freightways for a ten-minute interview. This talk preceded the eruption of the COVID pandemic by a few days, and if you look at the interview with today’s hindsight you realize how much is unpredictable in the air cargo industry, as well as how big its strength and resilience.  We all know what aviation went through, and Delta in particular was put to test by the situation developing five years ago.
     We wondered whether the past trouble has been completely digested and, in a completely serendipitous encounter, we are fortunate enough to have a conversation with the same Andy Kirschner, trying to find out where Delta Cargo stands at the beginning of 2025. After the usual pleasantries, we produced straight questions and Kirschner’s answers today were as effective as those in the interview he released five years ago.

FT:  Please describe Delta Air Cargo in February 2025. Where is your plan for air cargo at this time?
AK:   
We have a robust network and are growing our fleet of cargo-friendly aircraft. We currently have a large network of widebody aircraft, flying on both international and key domestic lanes. We focus on lanes that are important to cargo to ensure we are servicing those markets with the best possible aircraft solutions. We also have a wide range of trucking and joint venture airline partner options to offer our customers.

FT:  Outline initiatives. Can you share some vision of the year ahead, perhaps a review of the last year and what lessons were learned?
AK:   
The company recently announced the largest schedule in Delta’s history coming in Summer 2025. Also, Delta added more widebody aircrafts to its fleet, including the Airbus A350-900s and we look forward to the addition of the A350-1000s expected to arrive in 2026. We strategically position aircraft on the right lanes that are mutually beneficial for both maximum cargo movements and passenger travel like our long-haul markets to SYD and JNB. Finally, our newest joint venture partnership with LATAM offers our mutual customers a more seamless experience through streamlined operations and an extensive network across both North and South America. We always look to have the best service and capabilities for our customers as well as learn from our joint venture partners.
 
FT:   What surprised you? 
AK:   After 2024 and this beginning of 2025 is there anything that can really surprise us?

FT:  How important is Texas and the Southwest to Delta Cargo? Give the options in the market, why choose Delta Cargo?
AK:   The Texas market is very important to Delta with strong capacity going both east and west from the state along with a regular trucking service to ATL daily. Also, we have a dedicated Texas-based account manager, who is experienced in the market and very creative with solutions for our Texas customers.

FT:  What, given five minutes to speak to key shippers you meet in Dallas, would you say?
AK:   
I would say that our customers will have a great experience working with the Delta Cargo team. From ease of use with setting up programs to our operations teams’ experience with drop off and pick up – we aim to have a smooth, expedited experience for our customers. Our reliability is among the top in the industry, with Cirium again naming Delta as North America’s most on-time airline in 2024.

FT:  Can you talk a bit of commodities and include the entire range of goods Delta handles better than anybody else.
AK:   
We pride ourselves in the level of service that we provide to our customers for all of our products. Our DASH service is known for its dependability and our customers have grown to expect this high level of service. We also have our DASH Critical service that focuses on the transport of highly sensitive commodities such as human organs, AOG, etc. Our Pharma business has developed over the past several years and now our customers heavily rely on our top performance and our capabilities, with cooler storage facilities available around the world.

FT:  What is the most common misunderstanding about Delta Cargo?
AK:   
Since Delta is known for being a premier carrier of passengers throughout the world, many want to know if there is the same level of commitment to cargo.  The answer is a clear and overwhelming – YES. The amount of investment that Delta has put into the cargo division has been tremendous.  In the summer of 2024, Delta hired Peter Penseel to be the President of Delta Cargo, sending a clear message that we want to provide top level customer service to go along with our global network, and have the strongest customer partnerships in the industry. We are confident that our customers are seeing this energy level and commitment on a daily basis.

FT:  How has Delta supported the proposition of utilizing the DFW gateway for cargo? What initiatives or outreach or training or information programs are offered to help clients navigate doing business with Delta Cargo via Gateway DFW?
AK:  
In DFW we partner very closely with our customers in many ways, with domestic customers and couriers making use of our direct flights in and out of the DFW market, as well as our international customers who leverage our daily trucking capabilities to and from the market. We allow shipper-built units from DFW with trucking connections in ATL for a host of international destinations. The ease of use of working with Delta sets us apart and our “can do” attitude and dedication to finding solutions for our customers always shines through.

FT:  
How important is collaboration? How does Delta cooperate as example with forwarders and other service partners?
AK:  Our main focus is to collaborate with our customers, and we see them as partners. We coordinate on a daily basis to offer solutions including putting together an array of specific programs to meet unique needs. We also have a host of joint venture partners that we coordinate with to offer solutions for our forwarder partners, such as our latest joint venture partner LATAM.

DELTA CARGO, BOOTH 604
AirCargo 2025, Dallas

FT:  As a long-time dedicated air cargo executive, take an industry view and please suggest some things the industry can do to better itself and frankly work better all around?
AK:  It’s always a pleasure spending time at conventions such as the Air Cargo Conference where we have a focus on building the industry to higher levels. We always aim to focus on areas that improve the overall experience. As I mentioned earlier, it’s important to have cargo-friendly airports that make getting cargo in and out of warehouse areas easy.  Also, ULD management and continued improvements in digitalization resulting in less manual entries would be great improvements to the industry all around.

FT:  What would you like to be able do in air cargo that has not already been done? (get rid of paper, tighten security etc.)
AK:  Streamlining the process for companies to process cargo daily by minimizing paperwork and carrier congestion at airports come to mind.

FT:  Who will be the air cargo industry leaders and managers of tomorrow? What must the air cargo business do to attract young talent you work for the betterment of air cargo? 
AK:  We have to mentor young talent and encourage them to learn the cargo market; we want talent to want to get into the cargo business. We offer a large-scale co-op program at Delta Cargo with about 10-15 undergraduate students from various colleges and universities at our ATL headquarters each semester, learning different aspects of the cargo business. We also have a strong mentorship program at Delta Cargo as well. Again this year, we are sponsoring the Women in Cargo reception at the AirCargo Conference on Monday, March 3, where we are hosting a panel of women, to discuss how they mentor young women in the cargo business.
     Last year Delta positioned itself in Texas with a unique initiative to view the only total eclipse visible in Dallas until 2045 from the air; this year Kirschner comes to Dallas with a comprehensive strategy that is meant to address his customers’ requirements, in particular those closer to the Texan community. A good opportunity to meet him and touch base on the opportunities available at the beginning of March 2025.
MLS



Sandy Gregory, Sheila Serafin, Elizabeth Moscoso, Sarah Willing

     On Monday March 3rd at 1700 hours great expectations at sundown in early March 2025 get a reality check as a determined group of futurists that have met in one form or another for the past several years at Air Cargo Conference will be once again center stage.
     “Mentoring Tomorrows Leaders” is an appellation affixed to this most interesting meeting.
     Hats off to the participants in a  straight from the shoulder, right from the heart group working to advance the lot and role of women in logistics.
     Women’s panel includes Sandy Gregory of Gregory Logistics who will serve as Moderator, Elizabeth Moscosco-Moscosco Express , Sarah Willing-Delta Airlines and Sheila Serafin-RIM Logistics.

WOMEN'S NETWORKING EVENT
5:00-6:00 PM
SAGE


     We thought a way to get the ball rolling for this discussion would to be to share some thoughts asked of each leader:
     Sandy Gregory of Sandy Gregory is well positioned to once again take the reigns of this stellar group.
     Sandy with more than 30 years  in logistics is a pioneering woman who bases her Gregory Consultant Company in Glen Ellyn Illinois near O’Hare International Airport.
     “At Gregory Logistics Consulting, we help businesses navigate the complex world of regulatory trade compliance and cargo operations with dedicated support and advocacy.
     “We are all about advancing solutions and transportation compliance support.
     “Gregory Logistics Consulting is committed to enhancing your supply chain efficiency and compliance. We understand that not all companies operate the same, so we tailor our services to meet your specific needs.”
     Elizabeth Moscoso is  President of Moscoso Express, a family run “first and final mile” business based in Chicago said :
     “A most valued mentor is Katie Tasdemir of Griley Airfreight. Katie has been instrumental in my journey within the air cargo industry. Her guidance helped me navigate daily operations and business management that make a company thrive.
     “Moscoso Express is proud to share many synergies with Griley Airfreight as women-led businesses, particularly our dedication to ethical and professional practices and the highest level of care for our clients. I'm grateful to Katie for leading by example and look forward to our continued collaboration.”
     Sheila Serefin is yet another lady pioneer in transportation from the great American mid-west having been with Roselle Illinois based Rim Logistics since startup in 1997.
     Today in a position dominated elsewhere by men Sheila Serafin serves as Vice President Global Accounts as someone who indeed  has worked her way up the ladder taking no short cuts along the way.
     RIM is a global logistics company that offers transportation, warehousing, and distribution services and supply chain management, cargo insurance, and customs brokerage.
     Sarah Willing is Director, Cargo Performance & Analytics at Delta Air Lines who has held several high demand posts since joining the Atanta based carrier.
     Analytics in this ladies title is a leading indicator to her rise into a key post in the future of DL Cargo as she has served in getting down to business over her years as manager of SME and other strategies, including Agency Sales, Corporate Sales Development, Domestic Sales Development and most recently Director of Sales Performance, the Americas.
     In her current post Sarah says she is firstly focused upon developing and executing strategic, integrated marketing and communications campaigns to increase Delta Cargo brand and product awareness, including events coordination for tradeshows, conferences, and customer events.”
     Well good luck to all at Air Cargo Conference where the word 'will-powered by women' who are ready to share big ideas as they welcome their future leading the way in air cargo.
SSA


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Paul Bayes, Denise Bayes, Daniel Bayes, Dylan Bayes, Thomas Bayes

     My name is Tom, Thomas Bayes actually, Vice president Asia at Emo Trans in the USA. I shall try to tell you why succession is a success element at EMO Trans. Please let me show you that the alliteration is not out of place this time.
     I have grown up around EMO Trans my entire life. My father Paul Bayes was co-founder of EMO USA along with Jo and Karin Frigger and Eckart Moltmann. That was 1972, when the first of today’s 30+ USA offices opened its doors at JFK, on the wings of the successful start of the company in Germany seven years earlier.
     Twenty-one years later, I started to work fulltime for EMO on September 1, 1993. Since then I worked in JFK, SFO, Manila, Philippines and now my corporate office in DFW, Dallas, where I have lived since 2003. EMO had its first third generation with my family, as from Paul to me and now through my son Daniel, who works for EMO DFW handling air export, that is the count. It is truly a family organization as my wife Denise Bayes is my assistant, and she has helped me for the past 10 years; my middle son Thomas did an internship for two summers with EMO Dallas while he was in college, however, he graduated with his Masters in Accounting and he is now working for the accounting firm PWC. My youngest son Dylan is in his second year getting his degree in Supply Chain Management at the university of Oklahoma and maybe at some point he Daniel Bayes, Paul Bayeswill also join the EMO Family, at least this is what I hope for.
     The value that EMO brings besides being an incredible family-run company, is that everyone has an opportunity to succeed and internally grow within the group. I started 31 years ago as a messenger running around the JFK airport, fast forward to today and now along with Marco Rohrer, our President and Global CEO, I have the responsibility of 13 EMO Countries in Asia and the Indian subcontinent.
     You may wonder what is special about EMO Trans that not only sets up family generational partnerships, but also creates an environment that allows them to flourish. My view is simple: EMO from day one has been run as a family and now going on 52 years later in the USA, that value and drive is still as important as it was from the very start there and then. A lot of us have family within the company and for the ones that are not family they truly feel like extended family, as a lot of us have worked together well over two decades.
     The slogan for EMO is ‘Success by Performance’ and year after year, generation after generation, this is what we all strive for in the EMO World, just like a big, extended family. These are our values, vision and ambitions. EMO Trans success continues through the second generation and still based on more or less the same core values. Working together as a family makes the difference as we attain success by successful successions!
     This being said, as in many families there needs to be a lot of understanding for one another. If you do not use understanding in large doses you get people bickering and that is surely far from what we are looking for. I think the key is being respectful of everyone’s opinion and having very open discussions, covering all the points that are needed, as well as having everyone involved to understand this is not personal, but what is best for the company going forward.
     This prudent approach is necessary to achieve a successful plan and, when discussing something with an open mind you can accept different opinions and the feelings that might be triggered.
     The overarching objective that all have is working together, so following an agreed common denominator is quintessential to be successful in business, and – let’s face it – also in our family lives. This is a fine balance that needs to be kept. It is important that business energy stays at work and the family life stays at home, and it needs to be clearly separated, so at the dinner table we are not talking about work and at work we are not discussing the weekend get-together. As I said it is a question of balance and we have been learning this lesson now for three generations!
     In all this, I feel the most important trait that make a family coop special is the commitment to each other, as you are committed to each other and to make it successful. At the same time, you are supposed to work for a common goal and you are supposed to verify that the others are sufficiently motivated to achieve it.  That is when you have the perception of a successful synergy and that is also where you can actually “touch” your success. 
     It takes energy and stamina, but the love of winning drives me most. I do hate losing, but the passion of winning is my daily drive, so I try to enthuse our days at EMO with this kind of spirit every single day on the job.
     Let me wish all out customers and work connections, wherever in the world their business takes them, complete success in their endeavor.  When you work with us at EMO you work with a family and, remember, there is nothing inaccessible for a united family.
Tom Bayes



FTM2025

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