18 air cargo executives to watch in 2026

Heightened geopolitical tension over tariffs and trade created a great deal of uncertainty and market volatility this year, leading industry leaders to adjust routes and capacity. Heading into 2026, much of that volatility is expected to remain. This year, Cargo Facts highlights nineteen executives to watch in 2026 as the industry adjusts to structural changes and overcomes the myriad challenges ahead. Our selection includes chief executives from airline, conversion, advanced air mobility and sustainability companies. Stephen Beaton, CEO, Circularity Fuels [caption id="attachment_57292740" align="aligncenter" width="1534"] Stephen Beaton, CEO of Circularity Fuels. (Courtesy/Circularity Fuels)[/caption] Palo Alto, Calif.-based renewable fuels startup Circularity Fuels , under the leadership of CEO Stephen Beaton , has developed the Ouro Reactor, which allows waste products from livestock to be converted into synthesis gas (syngas) on-site at farms. After the syngas is turned into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) on-site, it is trucked out, reducing the need for large-scale infrastructure like pipelines. The Ouro Reactor is 100 times smaller and 100 times less expensive than conventional reformers, Beaton told Cargo Facts . It is also made from recycled and modified automotive industry components. If deployed across all viable U.S. waste sites, including farms, landfills and wastewater treatment plants, Circularity estimates that biogas-to-SAF technology could produce 42 million gallons of SAF, nearly 160 million liters, per day. Circularity plans to demonstrate complete biogas-to-SAF production this year at a California farm, with commercial deployment targeted for 2026. Bryan Bedford, Administrator, FAA [caption id="attachment_57292707" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Bryan Bedford, administrator of the FAA. (Courtesy/FAA)[/caption] The United States Senate confirmed Bryan Bedford , the former CEO of regional carrier Republic Airways Holdings, as FAA administrator in July. The FAA has a lot on its plate, and Bedford will need to steer the organization through many challenges and choices. Top of mind for many is aircraft certification. The FAA certified IAI’s 777-300ERSF program in September, making it the first 777 freighter conversion project to receive an STC. However, many other converted and new-build freighter types are still under development and hoping to obtain certification in the next few years without further delays. The FAA also released a proposal to enable routine BVLOS operations for uncrewed aircraft systems in the commercial and public safety sectors on Aug. 5. If enacted, these rules would streamline BVLOS approval for operators, mandate safety requirements and enable large-scale growth of U.S. cargo drone operations. Additionally, Bedford and the FAA are responsible for fixing issues plaguing air traffic control, namely outdated and failing technology and the air traffic controller shortage . And the personnel shortage may worsen as the U.S. government shutdown continues . Guy Bridges, founder and managing director, Bridges Worldwide [caption id="attachment_57292840" align="alignright" width="360"] Guy Bridges, founder and managing director of Bridges Worldwide. (Courtesy/Bridges Worldwide)[/caption] Bridges Air Cargo is the airline subsidiary of Bridges Worldwide, a global logistics service provider launched by Managing Director Guy Bridges in 1989. Malta-based Bridges Air Cargo will become the launch operator of the Embraer E190F conversion by the end of the year after signing a deal with Regional One to lease the 2010-vintage E190F prototype (19000360, ex-Avianca El Salvador). Over the past thirty-five years, the company has navigated the global expansion of its logistics, express and courier services with offices in Hong Kong, Malaysia, South Africa, Germany and the United Kingdom. Kyle Clark, founder and CEO, Beta Technologies [caption id="attachment_57292749" align="aligncenter" width="689"] Kyle Clark, founder and CEO of Beta Technologies. (Courtesy/NYSE)[/caption] As the founder of Beta Technologies, Kyle Clark has guided the trajectory of the electric aircraft developer as CEO for more than seven years. Clark has led Beta from the initial concept designs to the testing phase of its electric Alia conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) and VTOL aircraft. Beta also filed for its initial public offering with the SEC in October and its shares began trading on the New York Stock Exchange Nov. 4. Beta’s tech demonstrator began test flights with Air New Zealand on Oct. 17 as part of a four-month lease agreement with the airline, enabling Air New Zealand to familiarize itself with the Alia CTOL. Apart from growing its order log with new customers including Ryan Air this year, Beta is collaborating with GE Aerospace to develop a hybrid propulsion system. Diogo Elias, CEO, Avianca Cargo [caption id="attachment_57292705" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Diogo Elias, CEO of Avianca Cargo. (Photo/Cargo Facts)[/caption] Avianca Cargo and its affiliate AeroUnion, which rebranded to Avianca Cargo Mexico in September, operate Latin America’s largest Airbus medium-widebody freighter fleet. Diogo Elias was promoted to CEO in May, and Avianca Cargo added its first A330-200P2F in June and its second A330-300P2F that same month. With a growing fleet and network, Elias and his team continue to capitalize on the commercial cooperation with Avianca Cargo Mexico. This year, Avianca Cargo also began using 767-300F capacity mainly to carry flowers on the return leg of Amazon’s new flight between Miami (MIA) and Bogota (BOG) as part of a deal with the e-commerce giant. Cargo Facts will see what else Elias does in 2026 to serve freighter demand to and from Latin America. Matt George, CEO, Merlin [caption id="attachment_57292751" align="aligncenter" width="948"] Matt George, CEO of Merlin. (Courtesy/Merlin)[/caption] Autonomous flight software developer Merlin has been led by CEO Matt George since the company launched in 2018. Merlin announced plans to go public in August after signing a business agreement with special purpose acquisition company Bleichroeder Acquisition Corp. I. The automated flight technology company will soon open a second test facility after agreeing to take over the former U.S. Navy hangar at Hanscom Field (BED) in Bedford, Mass. Merlin is completing flight tests as part of the certification effort for its Merlin Pilot software after receiving experimental airworthiness approval from the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand (CAA NZ) in May. It obtained Part 135 approval from the CAA NZ in the first quarter of 2024 and in October announced it had completed the second step of the four-step certification process with the CAA NZ. Hiroyuki Homma, CEO, Nippon Cargo Airlines [caption id="attachment_57292697" align="aligncenter" width="1267"] Hiroyuki Homma, CEO of Nippon Cargo Airlines. (Photo/Cargo Facts)[/caption] As CEO of Japan’s only all-cargo airline, Hiroyuki Homma played a key role in ANA Holdings’ acquisition of Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA). NCA became a subsidiary of the ANA group on Aug. 1, after numerous delays awaiting regulatory approval since the proposed takeover was announced in March 2023 . While NCA will continue to operate its eight 747-8Fs on its own AOC, it has five 747-400Fs in operation with Atlas Air and two registered with ASL Airlines Belgium . With the transaction closed, Cargo Facts will watch for changes in Japan’s large-widebody segment. Yash Kadadi, co-founder and CEO, Forerunner [caption id="attachment_57292709" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Yash Kadadi, co-founder and CEO of Forerunner. (Photo/Cargo Facts)[/caption] Yash Kadadi and Will Nida met at Stanford University and just a few years later, in 2024, founded San Francisco-based startup Forerunner. Kadadi is CEO and Nida is chief technology officer. Forerunner, which offers AI-based software to automate engineering workflows, won the top prize as Best in Show at the Cargo Facts EMEA 2025 Demo Challenge in Istanbul in May following two rounds of audience voting. Forerunner finds and explains MRO documents, such as component maintenance manuals, aircraft maintenance manuals, fault investigation manuals and historical maintenance records. This helps aerospace engineers and technicians quickly find and synthesize engineering knowledge spread across multiple data sources, helping them maintain and repair aircraft faster, increasing turnaround speeds and reducing aircraft-on-ground costs. Kadadi and Nida’s tech can help bring MRO processes into the 21st century, and Cargo Facts is eager to see the next step for this young company and its founders. Kim Kwan-sik, CEO, AirZeta [caption id="attachment_57292699" align="aligncenter" width="1179"] Kim Kwan-sik, CEO of AirZeta. (Photo/Cargo Facts)[/caption] Kim Kwan-sik became CEO of AirZeta, effective Jan. 11, to oversee and complete its purchase of Asiana Airlines’ cargo business and assets from Korean Air for $322 million. Korean Air had purchased Asiana Airlines in December 2024. AirZeta, previously Air Incheon, launched widebody operations with its newly acquired 747-400Fs in August as South Korea’s newest widebody freighter operator. The ten 747-400Fs and one 767-300F included in the Asiana deal complement AirZeta’s four 737-800SFs as the carrier evaluates various freighters for its fleet renewal strategy. As AirZeta grows its cargo operations, Cargo Facts looks forward to seeing bold moves from Kim. Damien Mazaudier, CEO, CMA CGM Air Cargo [caption id="attachment_57292750" align="alignnone" width="1001"] Damien Mazaudier, CEO of CMA CGM Air Cargo. (Courtesy/CMA CGM)[/caption] With Damien Mazaudier as CEO, CMA CGM Air Cargo acquired Air Belgium’s cargo business in the first half of the year, increasing the French shipping group’s widebody freighter footprint. Since taking over as CEO in September 2023, Mazaudier has continued to strengthen the carrier’s focus on the large-widebody segment, placing additional orders with Airbus for four A350Fs and Boeing for three 777Fs in 2024 as part of the realignment of its widebody strategy. With eight A350Fs on order, Mazaudier has positioned CMA CGM Air Cargo to become a major global player, especially when it takes delivery of the new Airbus production freighter in 2027 as launch operator. Val Miftakhov, CEO, ZeroAvia [caption id="attachment_57292708" align="aligncenter" width="581"] Val Miftakhov, CEO of ZeroAvia. (Courtesy/ZeroAvia)[/caption] ZeroAvia has become one of the industry’s pioneers of green powerplant technology under the leadership of CEO Val Miftakhov . The company’s vision of powering aircraft with hydrogen-electric engines will soon become a reality after ZeroAvia received permission from the FAA in August to establish testing and certification guidelines for its 600kW electric propulsion system. ZeroAvia hopes to obtain approval for its ZA600 powertrain from the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority by the end of 2026 and deliver the powerplant to U.K. launch customer RVL Aviation shortly after. The hydrogen-electric powerplant developer has secured orders from ASL Aviation Holdings , Monte Aircraft Leasing and American Airlines , to name a few. Guneet Mirchandani, Chair, Air One [caption id="attachment_57292711" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Guneet Mirchandani, chair of Air One. (Photo/Cargo Facts)[/caption] Guneet Mirchandani is the principal shareholder of U.K.-based Air One, the holding company behind British airline One Air, Romania-based ROM Cargo Airlines and Moldova-based airline Aerotranscargo. The group’s fleet includes eleven 747-400 freighters spread across the three AOCs. Additionally, One Air took delivery of the group’s first 777F in August and will receive another by yearend to expand its scheduled operations. Air One tried to expand its global footprint by acquiring Air Belgium’s freighter business through a subsidiary in late 2024. However, the Walloon Brabant Enterprise Court terminated the deal in March, and CMA CGM ended up buying Air Belgium. Air One told Cargo Facts it has no more firm freighter additions planned for now, but Cargo Facts believes the group intends to continue growing. Eduard Molkenboer, Head of Cargo, Royal Schiphol Group [caption id="attachment_57290816" align="alignright" width="360"] Eduard Molkenboer, head of cargo at Royal Schiphol Group.[/caption] Eduard Molkenboer became head of cargo at Royal Schiphol Group on Aug. 5, bringing with him more than thirty years of experience in supply chain management. Royal Schiphol Group owns and operates Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS), Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM) and Lelystad Airport (LEY), and holds a majority stake in Eindhoven Airport (EIN), all in the Netherlands. Nearly 1.5 million tonnes of cargo moved through AMS in 2024, an 8.2% increase from 2023. However, AMS saw cargo throughput of 688,000 tonnes in the first half of 2025, down 6.8% year over year, and 2.6% fewer freighter aircraft movements YoY, AMS reported. In addition to shoring up and growing Royal Schiphol Group’s cargo operations, Molkenboer will need to remain vigilant in the fight to protect cargo slots at AMS as the Dutch government seeks to reduce slots overall at the airport. While a 2024 plan by the Dutch government to cut 48,000 slots from AMS failed, the government is still pursuing fewer slot cuts, among other actions, to reduce noise and emissions. Ted O’Byrne, CEO, AviLease [caption id="attachment_57292704" align="aligncenter" width="1081"] Ted O'Bourne, CEO of AviLease. (Courtesy/AviLease)[/caption] AviLease CEO Ted O’Byrne made the lessor’s freighter ambitions clear at the Paris Air Show this year, announcing a firm order for ten A350Fs along with options for up to twelve more. AviLease was founded in 2022 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. With Air Lease’s A350F order cancellation , AviLease became the only lessor with orders for Airbus’ new large-widebody freighter as of Sept. 30. Cargo Facts is watching to see what other moves O’Byrne and AviLease will make in the freighter segment. Hamdi Osman, founder and CEO, SolitAir [caption id="attachment_57288808" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Hamdi Osman, founder and CEO of SolitAir. (Photo/Cargo Facts)[/caption] With more than forty-six years of experience, SolitAir founder and CEO Hamdi Osman orchestrated the launch and expansion of the United Arab Emirates’ latest narrowbody freighter operator. Osman has grown the startup from one 737-800BCF to six 737-800 freighters at its disposal this year. After first engaging ASL Aviation Holdings in an ACMI deal in October 2024, SolitAir proceeded to dry lease one aircraft from ASL in the first quarter, during which the new carrier also received its UAE AOC . Also this year, the startup completed lease deals for two 737-800BDSFs with World Star Aviation and one 737-800BCF from BBAM. SolitAir also wet leases three 737-800BCFs from ASL and plans to grow to twenty freighters in 2026. With such speedy expansion, Cargo Facts looks forward to seeing what more is on the horizon for SolitAir and Osman. Raj Subramaniam, CEO, FedEx [caption id="attachment_57292706" align="aligncenter" width="1185"] Raj Subramaniam, CEO of FedEx. (Courtesy/FedEx)[/caption] Raj Subramaniam has been CEO of FedEx since March 2022, benefiting from the wisdom and guidance of former CEO and FedEx founder and Executive Chairman Frederick W. Smith . However, Subramaniam lost his longtime friend and mentor when Smith died June 21. He must navigate the integrator through many hurdles in 2026, including market volatility resulting from trade tensions and tariffs and the lingering effects of the conclusion of FedEx’s contract with the U.S. Postal Service . FedEx anticipates a $1 billion headwind in fiscal 2026 , the company reported on Aug. 18. Cargo Facts will closely watch FedEx and Subramaniam in the coming year to see what changes, if any, he will make following Smith’s death. Bill Tarpley, CEO, Mammoth Freighters [caption id="attachment_57292698" align="aligncenter" width="2004"] Bill Tarpley, CEO of Mammoth Freighters. (Photo/Cargo Facts)[/caption] With more than thirty-five years of freighter conversion experience, CEO Bill Tarpley plays an instrumental role in seeking STC approval for Mammoth Freighters’ 777-200LRMF and 777-300ERMF conversions. Mammoth aims to obtain certification for the 777-200LRMF by yearend, Tarpley said at Cargo Facts Symposium 2025 recently. The first certification flight with the FAA took place in September. Mammoth has also expanded its conversion to the STS Aviation Services facility in Manchester, England (MAN), which in October completed its first door installation. The conversion company hopes to receive approval for the 777-300ERMF in the first quarter of 2026. And Cargo Facts will be keeping a close eye on Mammoth’s success under Tarpley’s leadership. Robert Van De Weg, CEO, Mas [caption id="attachment_57292695" align="aligncenter" width="579"] Robert Van De Weg, CEO of mas. (Photo/Cargo Facts)[/caption] Mexico-based Mas is keen to continue growing its medium-widebody fleet and may add one or two freighters per year for the next couple of years, CEO Robert Van De Weg told Cargo Facts in June. Van De Weg became CEO in February. Mas’ fleet consists of three A330-300P2Fs and two A330-200P2Fs. Two of the -300P2Fs are in CMI service with Galistair Malta, in which Mas acquired a 45% stake in late 2022. Given Van De Weg’s previous freighter experience at AirBridgeCargo, Cargolux, Atlas Air and KLM Cargo, Cargo Facts will watch where he takes Mas in 2026. Cargo Facts LATAM 2026, the essential event for stakeholders in Latin America, will take place Feb. 10-12 at the Marquis Reforma in Mexico City. Learn more and register by Dec. 26 to take advantage of early-bird pricing.

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