The tale of Tristan and Iseult might tell the tale of a medieval romantic tragedy, but the story of Tristan Koch, American Airlines Cargo Managing Director Cargo Sales EMEA ISC, is far more uplifting.
     To this fast-rising star, things are looking better everyday.
      “We want to ensure that we maintain our reputation for first-class customer satisfaction by being the most engaged team with flawless service, all delivered in a professional manner with a smile,”
      Mr. Koch told FlyingTypers in an exclusive interview.
      Tristan also casts a wider net as an industry veteran—he was a big player at British Airways Cargo for 11 years before joining AA Cargo a little over five years ago. He operates from his base at AA Cargo’s Heathrow Airport facility in London, where he has responsibilities for the airline’s regional cargo offices and GSA operations, among other things:
      “I would urge all our industry colleagues to continue to find the time and resources to take our businesses forward on the technology front.
      “I also would like the industry to be better recognized for the major role it plays in global commerce.  
      “Lagging behind in these areas can result in missing out on embracing critical efficiencies and being recognized for our customer enhancements.
      “We should all look to the wider community of shippers, regulatory bodies, and freight forwarders to join together in this quest,” Tristan Koch said.

Thinking Out Of The Box
     
      Tristan admits that he did not start out in life as an airline guy.
      “The airlines found me,” he smiles.
      “I was a civil servant working for the UK government on environmental policy when an old university friend said British Airways was looking for new people.
      “There I was in the cargo department one day, assuming that I would transfer to the passenger division after six months.
      “That was 17 years ago.
      “It looks like an air cargo lifetime, and I’m quite pleased and feel lucky to be in this great business.
      “The past five years and four months at American Cargo have been amazing.
      “I am excited to be working for such an established blue chip company that is very clear about long-term investment in cargo and the improvement of its products and services,” said Koch.
      “Now with the integration of USAirways, the new American Airlines offers even more possibilities and new challenges.
      “The airline is alive with great people, an unmatched route system and service offering, and a willingness to cross the bridge to deliver customer satisfaction—no excuses, every time.”
      We like Tristan—especially the picture we obtained of the cargoman out for a walk.
      Tristan is a smart and engaged European cargo executive who at quick glance has a breezy presence similar to the great musician Boz Scaggs.
      Tristan looks quite cool and comfortable in his clothes.
      “I wouldn’t call it a special talent,” Tristan says, “ but I believe I bring an empathy to my role that not only serves American well but, where possible, I look to use that influence to help our industry in a broader way.
      “I have a natural curiosity which I think helps also—I want to know how things work and why things are done in certain ways and, most importantly, how they can be improved to better benefit our customers. 
      “I am also naturally interested in people and understanding different interpretations on issues, a characteristic which, I believe, gives me a more rounded perspective.”

All American
     
     “The message that we are clearly trying to promote in 2016 is that American Airlines Cargo is a major international player in the global market, particularly since our merger with US Airways.
      “In the past, the European and Asian markets may have seen us as a medium-size player, but with the merger (very successfully) behind us, our capacity in Europe has grown around 50 percent and our continued network expansion has taken us in to new territories recently, such as Hong Kong (HKG), Auckland (AKL), and Sydney (SYD).
      “This coupled with our new fleet of aircraft that are the most cargo-friendly available (namely the 777-300s and 787s), we are making a real impact on the International scene. 

Fast track Longevity

     “Business is, in a word, good, and American Airlines Cargo is doing great,” Tristan Koch said.
     “The markets are challenging and the industry is evolving at a high speed, with networks and capacity growing at an exponential rate.
     “The reason I am still here 16-and-a-half years longer than I expected is because I enjoy it.
     “And I enjoy it because it is a fast moving industry and one that deals with real products and services that make a difference to so many people’s lives, often without them realizing it.
     “Whether it is the South American blueberries on a plate in London, Scottish Salmon in a Los Angeles restaurant, or life-saving drugs from Switzerland in New York, American Cargo is the driver that delivers the world.
     “Lastly, it is an old cliché, but we do work in a people-centric business and it is exactly those relationships that make air cargo such a rewarding place to work.
     “As we enter a more automated and mechanical mode of doing business, let us not lose sight of that and remember to still make the effort to meet up and talk to each other.”
     Reminds us that life is a song…
Geoffrey

     Lionel van der Walt, a South African who has been part of IATA for the past decade (mostly on the passenger side), went into the spotlight and took center stage as IATA Cargo Network Services (CNS) President and Host of the Partnership Conference in Nashville.
     Lionel came on with a big smile and, if you look a bit closer, a steely determination, no doubt honed by time spent looking at a lot of airplanes in the air; once upon a time, Lionel was an air traffic controller and an airline guy at South African Airways.
     He immediately made it clear that he has a plan, a program, and is ready to listen.
     Pre-judging this guy may be a mistake, as in the case of this year’s Partnership he was only named to his post mid-way through the cycle, after the venue had been already determined.
     But from first blush Lionel seems passionate about the job and also the challenge.
     “I’m totally committed to making this presidency work for the air cargo business and its people.
     “Much of my time to date has been out listening to the industry to get the feel of what is expected and where we need to move to be effective.
     “I’m impressed by how friendly the atmosphere is here; the gathering is quite personal in nature and so much more than just a series of business meetings.”
     CNS comprises people that have worked together for years—a tight-knit community.

     But overall the message from Lionel is that changes are coming.
     “What concerns me looking at CNS attendance is that we have a problem in bringing in new people, especially the younger generation, and that is something that many of us agree should be addressed.”
     “Gender diversity is another focal point.
     “We need to diversify our teams,” Lionel said.
     “Another point is that we need to make sure that we have balanced representation from all groups at all future CNS panels and meetings.
     “Of course, all of this is easier said than done, because currently we lack the aforementioned balance, but we are determined to go out and identify key people in our industry who can come in, participate, and become part of us,” Lionel van der Walt said.
     Now is the time for getting tomorrow’s plans into action, a task that has never been easy for the unusually large number of past CNS presidents, which number four in the last decade alone after CNS founding father Tony Calabrese’s reign of 18 years (out of the group’s 26 years total).
     Call this era the “Lionel Track” or “Get On Board The Lionel Train;” air cargo around the world has always benefitted from a strong, diverse, and interesting CNS.
     More power to them, we say.
     The next CNS Partnership is set for April 30 –May 2, 2017 at the JW Marriott Orlando. Stay tuned . . .
Geoffrey

Vol. 15 No. 30
Gareth Joyce Named President Delta Cargo
Out To Sea At CNS
United Sez "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet"
Chuckles For April 11, 2016
Why Issa Baluch Matters