12 executives to watch for 2024

With the pandemic mostly behind us, the freighter industry this year addressed a new set of challenges, including a softening market, fluctuating fuel prices, supply chain difficulties, higher cost of materials, engine issues, conversion delays and tightening feedstock. 2024 is slated to bring with it several major developments, including Airbus beginning the final assembly of its A350F prototype ; ATSG delivering its first A330P2F on lease; and all three 777 freighter conversion providers potentially obtaining certification for their respective programs. As 2023 enters its final quarter and the industry awaits the completion of milestones by these established organizations, other companies within the industry have emerged as new players — or potential players — in the freighter space. Cargo Facts highlights the twelve executives to watch in the year ahead at these companies. While there are many resilient industry leaders who have navigated their companies through turbulence, these C-suite execs stand out as new entrants in the freighter space and/or for expanding their footprints with new freighter types or in new markets. These are among the freighter industry leaders of tomorrow. Carlos Cock, chief executive, Xtreme Holdings [caption id="attachment_56865443" align="alignright" width="250"] Xtreme Holdings Chief Executive Carlos Cock.[/caption] Xtreme Holdings entered the freighter leasing sector last year under the leadership of Chief Executive Carlos Cock, and completed several 737 Classic freighter lease transactions while acquiring and selling a 767-200F and a 737-300F . The group expanded its cargo footprint when it became licensed to provide touch labor for PEMCO 737 Classic conversions and successfully completed the conversion of an Africa Charter Airline 737-300F in September 2022. Xtreme Holdings’ new leasing arm, Aventus Air Leasing, placed a 737-300F on lease to new freighter operator Dominican Republic-based Sky High, and leased a 737-400F and a -300F to Colombia-based Aerosucre , part of a lease with purchase option deal Xtreme signed with the carrier for seven 737 Classic freighters. Ryan Goepel, chief financial officer, Global Crossing Airlines [caption id="attachment_56865442" align="alignleft" width="250"] Global Crossing Airlines Chief Financial Officer Ryan Goepel[/caption] Chief Financial Officer Ryan Goepel has been a pivotal contributor to the growth of Miami-based Global Crossing Airlines since it received approval for freighter operations from the FAA early this year and took delivery of its first A321F in January. Goepel was instrumental in GlobalX securing $35 million in senior secured notes in August from Axar Capital Management and its affiliates, which the airline will allocate toward its fleet expansion strategy. GlobalX recently reached a lease deal with CAM for a 2002-vintage A321-200PCF (1807, ex-Scandinavian Airlines) and told Cargo Facts that the aircraft is expected to arrive in October, along with four more A321Fs that are due to arrive by the end of the year. Audrone Keinyte, CEO, BBN Cargo Airlines Holdings [caption id="attachment_56865445" align="alignright" width="250"] BBN Cargo Airlines CEO Audrone Keinyte.[/caption] Iceland-based BBN Cargo Airlines Chief Executive Audrone Keinyte has seamlessly transitioned from her leadership role in tourism with the Lithuania-based Novaturas group to guiding the airline group through its fleet modernization and global expansion. Two things Keinyte has quickly picked up about the industry are how much regulation impacts it, and how “the whole world is literally your work office,” she said at the Cargo Facts EMEA event in Dubai in February. Keinyte has assumed responsibility for implementing the direction that Dublin-based parent company Avia Solutions Group envisioned when it acquired BBN in 2020. In addition to furthering its commitment to modernize the carrier fleet with 737-800Fs , the airline has expanded its freighter presence around the world with new subsidiaries in Indonesia , Turkey and Slovakia , while maximizing the operational effectiveness of the 737 Classics by placing them on routes where they are the most productive. Stanley Lee, CEO, Air Incheon [caption id="attachment_56865452" align="alignleft" width="250"] Air Incheon CEO Stanley Lee[/caption] Stanley Lee was appointed the new chief executive of South Korea-based Air Incheon at the end of 2022. By then, the carrier was already operating a fleet of four 737-800SFs , but Lee has since been implementing a new strategy for Air Incheon that will see it enter the large-widebody market. Lee recently told Cargo Facts that Air Incheon expects to add its first 777-300ERSF in late 2024 for e-commerce ACMI service, and could take on four more in the next couple of years. Iman Marco, group CEO of Middle East and Europe, Asia Cargo Network [caption id="attachment_56865446" align="alignright" width="250"] Asia Cargo Network Group CEO of Middle East and Europe Iman Marco[/caption] Iman Marco is CEO of Middle East and Europe at Singapore-based Asia Cargo Network; the young CEO also oversees the day-to-day operations of MENA Cargo Airlines in Bahrain. ACN acquired controlling shares of MENA Cargo Airlines in November 2022 and plans to place up to five freighter aircraft on the AOC, which will include a fleet mix of 737-800Fs and 767-300Fs. In addition to operating thirteen Boeing narrowbody freighters dispersed amongst its four subsidiary carriers, the ACN group recently launched its own leasing arm , U.K.-based ACN Aeroleasing, as part of its expansion into Europe. Irakli Mezvrishvili, general director, Georgian Airlines [caption id="attachment_56865463" align="alignleft" width="250"] Georgian Airlines General Director Irakli Mezvrishvili[/caption] Georgian Airlines is another carrier that emerged during the pandemic. Under the leadership of General Director Irakli Mezvrishvili, it has steadily grown its narrowbody fleet, and toward the end of 2022 added a third 737-800F . One of several startups in the Caspian region, what sets Georgian Airlines apart is its move into the widebody segment . The carrier recently leased and began flying its first 767-300F from CAM, and expects another next year. Mark Neely, vice president freighter, Embraer Commercial Aviation [caption id="attachment_56865448" align="alignright" width="250"] Embraer Vice President Freighter Mark Neely.[/caption] Mark Neely was appointed to lead the freighter unit of Brazil-based Embraer on June 1. He previously served as vice president of sales and marketing and head of North America at Embraer. The planemaker is busy working on its E190F conversion prototype and in September cut the opening for the new cargo door and door surround. Embraer has secured orders for twenty conversions and recently confirmed to Cargo Facts that it is on track for certification and redelivery by around mid-2024. Luis Ramos, founder and CEO, Awesome Cargo [caption id="attachment_56865450" align="alignleft" width="250"] Awesome Cargo founder and CEO Luis Ramos[/caption] Luis Ramos, founder and CEO, is preparing Mexico-based Awesome Cargo to commence operations as it finalizes its certification process. Awesome Cargo is also looking to become the first 737-800F operator in Mexico after announcing it has signed a letter of intent for the narrowbody freighter with a major lessor. Awesome Cargo has leased two A330-200s (1218 and 1225, both ex-Alitalia) from Air Lease Corp. and will operate the aircraft in the Medius Class E cargo configuration developed by U.K.-based Avensis Aviation. Cris Sutter, CEO, Avensis Aviation [caption id="attachment_56865451" align="alignright" width="250"] Avensis Aviation CEO Cris Sutter[/caption] Sutter founded Avensis and entered the cargo market during the pandemic after roles on the passenger side of the industry. The London-based company started off with a relatively simple seat-removal modification to allow carriers to carry lightweight cargo in passenger cabins, but since then has developed and certified Medius, a reversible Class E cargo modification for the A330-200 and -300 . The next step for Avensis is Navis, a full-freighter conversion with cargo door that the company is developing, initially for the A340-300 and -600 . Certification is expected in 2026. Dan Watson, chief commercial officer, Aero Capital Solutions [caption id="attachment_56865444" align="alignleft" width="250"] Aero Capital Solutions Chief Commercial Officer Dan Watson[/caption] Over the past couple of years, Aero Capital Solutions has established a firm foothold with the latest generation of narrowbody freighters. With Watson as chief commercial officer, ACS sent its first 737-800s for conversion with AEI in 2020 and has progressively added to its orderbook, becoming the largest 737-800SF customer . ACS is also investing in Airbus conversions and took redelivery of its first A321 freighter this year as part of a sale-conversion-leaseback deal with SmartLynx . The lessor has said that it intends to also grow its presence with A321Fs. Jason Winata, executive director, Rimbun Air [caption id="attachment_56865447" align="alignright" width="250"] Rimbun Air Executive Director Jason Winata[/caption] Jason Winata led Rimbun Air into the 737 market in 2021 with the addition of two 737-300Fs, joining multiple other carriers in Indonesia operating the type. Rimbun Air proceeded to lease its — and Indonesia’s — first 737-800SF in 2022. The carrier intends to continue growing with both 737 Classics and 737-800s , and is even evaluating 767s. “We have built a pretty decent domestic pipeline,” Winata told Cargo Facts . “Now is the time to go international.” Yang Zhan, co-founder, Central Airlines [caption id="attachment_56865464" align="alignleft" width="250"] Central Airlines co-founder Yang Zhan[/caption] Yang Zhan, co-founder of China-based Central Airlines, has elevated his carrier from one 737-300F in 2020 to a fleet of eleven widebody and narrowbody freighters . In addition to weathering the stringent regulatory climate of China and the challenges of building a startup, Zhan implemented his business model while leveraging deals with companies such as China-based forwarder YunExpress to establish market share in a competitive air cargo environment. Central Airlines became China’s fourth 777F operator in August 2022 when it added its first widebody freighter, and eleven months later placed its second 777F into service. Central Airlines also operates four 737-800BCFs and five 737-300Fs, and Cargo Facts believes further growth will follow. There is less than a month to go until Cargo Facts Symposium, taking place Oct. 25-27 at the Omni San Diego. Learn more about the essential event for stakeholders in the freighter and air cargo industry, and register today .

12 executives to watch for 2024

The executives Cargo Facts sees making a difference in the industry in the years ahead

ValueJet to operate first CRJ200F in West Africa

Air Cargo Tech Summit 2023: Lessons learned on the digital journey

Related Posts

Widebody transactions carry momentum into June

From the Cockpit with K2 Aviation’s Karl Ryan

Production freighter activity highlights May FATs

Air Cargo Tech Summit 2023: Lessons learned on the digital journey

Cargo Facts Free Newsletters

Cargo Facts Connect Podcast

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Retrieve your password