The landscape is complete. “A thorough understanding of the latest cargo insights and trends to align your business strategies effectively, unlocking valuable opportunities” is the catchphrase used by IATA to describe the main takeaway that comes from “excellent networking opportunities, premium brand exposure” with the opportunity to “present your offerings to a targeted audience”. The expected participants include the complete panoply of all the actors of the air cargo chain: airlines, airports, ground handlers, freight forwarders, GSA/GSSA, training providers, without forgetting other professionals who work with the air cargo industry, albeit not necessarily as a constant part of it: law firms, loss adjusters and insurers . . . as well as those who are supposed to set the scene: the regulators. As expected this will be a place for speeches and learning, with some fun, in particular if you get out in the evening in the vibrant city of Brussels. September is an ideal period in Brussels, pleasantly cool with days that are still long enough to offer both business and leisure.
     Still in September you can have another stab at air cargo if you travel to Liège in Belgium. There is a show which is expected to attract large audiences and can boast a sponsors’ list that would make many other organizers jealous. It is the ACE. Our friends Turgut Erkeskin, President of FIATA and Glyn Hughes, DG of TIACA will be among the many experienced speakers.
     Let us stay in Europe for a minute. In mid-October you may wish to test a Gammel Dansk in Copenhagen, after the welcome reception at the ULD Care Conference program has captured your “fullest attention”, as you may hear before take-off in certain European flights . . . This is a place where you can learn anything you ever wanted to know about ULD’s, and other tricks to keep your air cargo safe and in good condition. If your interests are more specific to the core of the aviation business and, possibly, you are more inclined to servicing flying objects than steering the ends of the supply chain to stick together and meet, you will find what you need by consulting this link. Please make sure you have a trail back, lest you got lost in the clouds of spiritJ
     In early September you could actually decide for London, where Excellence in Procurement and Supply is being staged.

     A couple of hundred miles and a few days later you can do the IMHX, which is probably the largest gathering of this kind in the UK, but if you happen to be in the USA in September, do not miss the CHAINge North America. This is how the show is proclaimed on the front page of their website: “the premier gathering of North American supply chain leaders… is designed to equip you with unique insights and tools you can use immediately to build resilience and accelerate impact in today’s complex supply chain landscape.” If you really think this is not what you wanted in the end, you may find it easier to reconcile with aviation and aircraft if you visit the National Museum of Air Force: it is not far away, you can actually drive there, no need to fly.
     The big thing of the autumn in the USA will happen in November and that will be both catering for logistics in general (Transport Logistics Americas) and airfreight with Air Cargo Americas. “This strategic expansion of the transport logistic Americas portfolio enables us to offer a multimodal event that includes all modes of transport and covers the entire supply chain.” That is how the event is presented by Messe München, the organizers. 
     Still in November you have a chance to learn more about the complexities of logistics if you travel to Utrecht in the Netherlands. Logistica Next will tell you all about it, even if you have not entered the TOTP of the sector just as yet . . . but if you decide you want to explore what comes next, further afield in the future, country by country, and decide for yourself what appears to be the most appealing reunion for you, we give you two useful links here below, which will help you decide, starting from which country attracts you most:
                                      TRADE FAIRS or TRADE SHOWS

     Perhaps you may decide then to stop in Djibouti for Intermodal Africa, a show like no other, but then you are in the beginning of 2026 already . . . Your choice.
     For the remaining part of 2025, there is no shortage of events travelling eastwards. We have already seen FIATA and TIACA will both stop in Asia, but there are other trade exhibitions and fairs that could be interesting, in particular when you focus on specialized sectors of the industry, such as the cold chain for example: in Bangkok there is an important gathering with this theme at its very heart.
     Never a dull moment in Asia, the continent shows best intentions to claim the podium for organizing the most and the most attractive events of the season. In Asia in particular, but not only, China comes frequently first in line. In November, Shanghai is putting together an air cargo conference that has all the elements to become a reference model, now and in future. I have personally been invited to participate, perhaps we shall meet there, who knows?
     In any case the hottest spot this fall should be Singapore, where the Transport Logistics South East Asia and the Air Cargo South East Asia will take place, almost simultaneously . . . We all know Singapore’s potential: a visit will not only be instrumental in your business, but can multiply your horizons with the endless opportunities that Singapore offers.
     This is how we come to the end of the year, and I think we must “leave it at that” as some of the most skilful and academic speakers end their presentations, apparently in mid-air, having just dished out a concept that appears too complicated to explain any further. That is how they let it sink in your thoughts . . .
     But, but . . . we cannot stop just as yet.  There is one more tip that many of you may actually like, even if it requires a bit more planning in future. If you love Paris in the springtime, my suggestion is to go everywhere else in Europe in the autumn 2025, as we have just told you, but wait for April 2026 to fly to Paris. The city explodes in the springtime in all its colours and wonderful scents. April in style, one could say, and… that is precisely when the SITL, one of the largest European trade events will take place at Villepinte, Paris, France. Paris, I mean, Paris . . . Louvre, Mona Liza, The Champs-Élysées, Champagne, Foie Gras, la Seine, etc. Rings a belle?

     Happy trade lanes with our trade links!
     Let yourself be carried to travel to these attractions, in order to end your trip in Paris with the sweet promise of a wonderful experience, in particular if you are young and curious. But, please do not overindulge in champagne, certainly not, if you are the pilot!
Marco Sorgetti