MTU Aero Engines VP Cronin joins Cargo Facts Symposium 2026

Les Cronin, vice president of MTU Aero Engine North America, will join Cargo Facts Symposium 2026 for the panel discussion “Tackling sourcing and procurement challenges facing freighters and engines” on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 16:00 (GMT-5).

The 32nd annual Cargo Facts Symposium will take place Oct. 21-23 at the Grand Hyatt in Nashville, Tenn., where industry leaders and decision makers will gather to assess the latest trends and developments in the freighter sector, while sharing their insights to project the market’s growth trajectory.

View the Cargo Facts Symposium 2026 agenda.

For this discussion, Cronin will share insights on the freighter engine segment, including:

• Minimizing component, material, inventory and labor cost escalations, particularly for aging freighter types;
• Overcoming limited engine feedstock and inventory; and
• Solutions to the global parts dilemma.

Cronin leads MTU’s engine services sales and business development in North America. He previously served as vice president of Global Engine Leasing, MTU’s leasing arm, and has more than twenty-six years of experience in the MRO, leasing and airline industry.

Germany-based MTU Aero Engines opened its 440,000-square-foot facility in Fort Worth, Texas (AFW), which also includes a new engine test cell commissioned in August.

MTU Aero Engines is one of the world’s largest MRO providers for commercial engines, serving 230 airlines. The company designs, develops, manufactures and performs maintenance on more than thirty commercial and military engine types.

Cargo Facts Symposium 2026, the premier event for the freighter aircraft and air cargo industries, will take place in Nashville, Tenn., on Oct. 21-23. Find out more and register by Sept. 4 to take advantage of early-bird pricing.