The biennial Air & Sea Cargo Americas (ACA) is just around the corner, launching in just three weeks (November 4-6) in beautiful Miami, Florida.
     Originally set as an alternative to the TIACA ACF, the two-day gathering provides a predictable amount of excitement by keeping close to its roots and aiming for achievable results. It doesn’t hurt that the setting is filled with local color and the go-go heartbeat of Miami, which just seems to get better and sway sweeter to the rhythms of life as the years roll along.

Just Fancy Enough
     
     While some might find the rail and curtains setup for some display stands a bit old fashioned and unsophisticated, we think those folks ought to get over themselves, suspend disbelief, and sign up for this industry trade show event that allows for everyone to come as they are with as high- or low-brow an approach as traffic can stand.
     ACA is the venue that brings business down to the ground, with deal making like a metaphorical bell ringing almost every minute of the two-day fiesta.
     Liberal amounts of good things to eat and drink and of course that distinctively warm and always welcome Latin hospitality lubricates the passage of time, later recalled as no more than a nanosecond.

Cuba Libre Out of The Bottle

     No doubt the continued opening up of business with Cuba is a big story this year.
     In any case, a recent, early-October visit to Miami reveals a growing skyline that looks like Dubai on steroids, the result of a building program.
     Air Cargo Americas will be hosted by The World Trade Center in Miami, where Charlotte Gallogly serves as President.
     Miami WTC is an organization that holds various events to support the fortunes of Miami business and commerce.


Charlotte Is Undefeated

     Central to the Miami WTC operation is outspoken and no-nonsense Charlotte Gallogly.
     FlyingTypers salutes Charlotte for her dedication to serving air cargo with an outstanding forum and trade show.
     The simple truth is that as long as there has been an Air Cargo Americas, the show has been hosted by the Miami WTC.
     It speaks volumes about her strength and determination that Charlotte has almost single handedly pulled this show up by its bootstraps.
     Over the years the event has grown bigger and then shrunk smaller; it has showcased new carriers coming in while also seeing some that stuck their toes in the water only to never return.
     Once, an ACA even got caught in a hurricane and had to cancel as the storm ripped up Miami and closed everything else in its path for several days.
     Undeterred, in 2015 Charlotte is like a long distance runner—a constant force in U.S. air cargo events.

All American Show Place

     A highlight of the two-day event includes a luncheon on Wednesday, November 4, hosted by American Airlines Cargo and with a talk by AA Cargo President Jim Butler.
     Mr. Butler will speak about the many issues facing the air cargo industry in the Western Hemisphere today.
     Topics range from recognizing new opportunities and embracing change, to the industry-wide adoption of modernized processes and streamlined communication. During this discussion attendees will learn more about American’s current efforts to improve on the customer experience and thoughts around the future of technology and valuable partnerships.

     The ACA event will also serve to debut new U.S. services by Turkish Cargo, which commences flying daily Boeing 777-300ER flights between Istanbul and Miami on October 25.
     Turkish Cargo Vice President for Cargo Marketing and Sales Halit Anlatan is upbeat:
     “Our Miami flights will operate seven times a week in both directions.
     “Starting October 25 we will then be serving eight destinations in the U.S., including Chicago, Miami, New York, Boston, Washington, Huston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.”
     “We look forward to greeting old and new friends in Miami whilst offering opportunities for Latin American cargo business via Turkish Airlines to Istanbul, the better located gateway connecting to Turkey, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia,” Halit Anlatan said.
     United Airlines VP Cargo Sales-Americas Jim Bellinder said, “Although United Cargo will not be exhibiting at ACA this year, we will be attending the conference and are eager to talk with existing and potential customers about how our capabilities align with their needs.
     “Our focus on improving our quality around the world continues to pay dividends: we’re very proud that reliability on our specialty products—such as TempControl, UASecure, QuickPak International, LifeGuard and TrustUA—has risen to 98.7 percent. TempControl in particular is growing rapidly as major pharma forwarders and manufacturers appreciate the quality of our communications and processes.
     “We also want folks in this region to know that United continues to expand our presence in Latin America.
     “United now offers 158 daily departures to 72 destinations in 28 countries. Nonstop flights to our U.S. hubs in Houston, Chicago, Newark, Washington Dulles, Los Angeles and San Francisco provide customers alternative gateways that reduce transit time in many cases and allow same-day connections to Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.”
More:  www.aircargoamericas.com
Geoffrey