Brussels Airport Cargo team lines up for TIACA Incheon. From left to right Steven Polmans, Benny Vandenheuvel, Marc Bogaerts, Johan Leunen and Nathan De Valck.

FlyingTypers’ last issue pointed out TIACA’s struggle to attract exhibitors, even from companies with representatives on the organization’s board of directors. In the interest of balance, we spoke to some of the companies that are supporting this year’s show. First up: Brussels Airport Company

BRU To ICN

     The initial thought is that there must be more than six degrees of separation between the political hub of the European Union and South Korea’s leading airport. In fact, the commonalities, at least in the skies, are many. It explains why Brussels Airport Company is one company that will be making the long trek to attend the 27th International Air Cargo Forum and Exhibition in Seoul over October 7-9.
     Johan Leunen, cargo marketing manager at BAC, said both Asiana Cargo and Korean Air Cargo (operated out of BRU and BAC) still see ACF as an important means of promotion. “South Korea is well represented at our airport,” he said. “Our attendance at TIACA’s Air Cargo Forum is in support of Asiana and Korean and their air cargo partners, as well as for promoting BRU to other Asian carriers as an efficient and flexible gateway into Western Europe.
     “We sincerely hope that other Asian carriers will find their way to BRU as well. When attracting new lanes and routes, approaching airlines and other local stakeholders go hand in hand.
     “Next to promoting our airport, we also would like to provide a platform to BRU cargo companies by offering them a convenient way to join us and to give them an opportunity to be present, too.”
     BAC has been investing heavily in new facilities and services in recent years and believes more Asian carriers could benefit from routing flights into BRU, which is now being marketed as “Brussels Airport – the heart of Europe.”
     “Location-wise, we are in the center of the most important area of that one big Euro market,” said Leunen. “We offer good facilities, smooth handling processes, and constructive and cooperative partners, such as customs. But most important is the warm heart and the passion we carry for our partners.
     “Together we look for solutions, efficiencies, opportunities, and new developments, and always keep an eye on the cost effectiveness for our partners. As key account managers of the cargo team, we want to make the difference and customer intimacy is our daily concern.”
     BRU, like many European airports and their airline partners, has not had the easiest of rides over the last few years, not least due to the general downturn in global air freight demand and the economic travails that have beset Europe. But this year volumes are on the rise, up more than 6 percent year-on-year over the first 8 months.
     “We expect these volumes to rise even further,” said Leunen. “Also, volumes have not been bad in the last two years. We do see a shift from full freighter to belly cargo and integrators, but that is less important for us. Our focus goes to facilitating cargo flows and volumes, and we aim for a flexible offer in capacity.
     “Shippers and forwarders need sufficient routes and destinations, and a mix of belly and main deck capacity in order to strengthen their presence in our region. This is our challenge and where we are seeing success and results.”
     He said one critical test facing European air freight operators and airports at the moment is the overcapacity, which is hurting carrier yields, especially for full cargo operators. “On top of that, European carriers face huge competition from Middle East carriers,” he added. “The cargo industry itself also faces a lot of challenges—some for a long time—such as further integration of the supply chain, e-freight, operational restrictions, etc.
     “As a partner of the industry, we share these challenges and work with the industry to overcome them.”
SkyKing

     A veteran in the air cargo business, Nomita Kothari has seen it all, loading and unloading cargo in the blistering heat and pouring rain of Mumbai. Today, with more than 20-odd years of experience in the industry, she wants to continue having fun in the air cargo business.
     Nomita joined the industry when she was barely out of college. She was fascinated by planes and loved travelling. What could be better than working for an airline? she asked herself.
     She did not have to wait long. “I had just finished my education,” she said, “when I saw an advertisement that KLM Royal Dutch Airlines was looking to hire someone.” Her uncle, Sanjeev Talwar, then Cargo Manager for Air India, convinced the young lady to apply for the job. “Not knowing anything about cargo, I went ahead . . . and secured the job.”

     It was then that she faced reality. The first few days must have been terrible. She recalled: “Little did I know then that cargo was not glamorous, nor was it swanky like the passenger division.” But the gutsy lady stuck with it. “It meant understanding kilos v/s pounds, pallets v/s containers, general cargo v/s perishables, and much more.” Perhaps she did not look forward to “going to the warehouse wearing high heels, perspiring while supervising the loading and unloading of cargo.” The part of her job that she liked was meeting Customs officials and customers.
     That was the beginning—almost 22 years ago—which she refers to as “a motivating journey,” where she learned “a great deal about business strategies, marketing activities, product specifications, complex rating structure, and the impact of economic development on the trade, plus much, much more.” Above all, she says she has learned about relationship management, business ethics, and trust.
     In January 1996, KLM promoted her as Manager, Customer Service – India, and after the merger with Air France, in May 2006, she was assigned to head the joint AF/KL Cargo, Customer Service organization. It was a challenging assignment and Nomita handled it deftly, integrating the people, processes, and procedures between the two organizations with offices spread across the country in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Jaipur, and Hyderabad.
     All along, the lady adapted herself to her colleagues—and almost all of them were males—to be in the industry that she has come to love. “I have never faced any adversity because I am a woman,” she said.
     “On the contrary, I have received support, guidance, and feedback. The people I have worked with, and continue working with, have been a positive influence in my life. The rich experience I have gained over the years has helped me develop my ‘people management skills’,” which she uses to coach, motivate, and develop the team she now leads as Business Development Manager at Sharaf Cargo. She joined the UAE-based company this January and hopes to give full flow to what she calls, “my forte: Customer Services.”
     The most exciting thing about the cargo industry is the rapid progress it is witnessing. “We are heading towards an e-platform... There is more happening: networks are expanding, joint ventures and alliances are coming in, there are new specialized products… it sure is a inspiring world out there,” she said. Today, she pointed out, customers are aware of what they want. “We must maintain a flexible attitude towards our customers’ requests and always focus on what our customers want and not what we think they need.”
     Was she still passionate about planes after looking at how to fill empty bellies for more than 20 years? Certainly, said the lady with a twinkle in her eyes. “Airplanes drew me to cargo” and she has no regrets. “There isn’t a day that goes by when I am not thankful for having found a place for myself in this evolving industry!”
Tirthankar Ghosh

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