Meanwhile, just down the road a piece in Abu Dhabi, while the air cargo business enjoyed Dubai on the half-shell for a couple days at the IATA World Cargo Symposium in April 14-17, Stanislas Brun, Chief Cargo Officer of Etihad Cargo has been working away at integrating Etihad Cargo into an operational and commercial powerhouse, with focus on enhancing efficiency, elevating service quality and driving sustainable growth.
     Under Mr. Brun’s leadership, a key priority for the Etihad approach to logistics is the development of tailored solutions that address the evolving needs of global customers and foster strategic partnerships. You might wonder—why Etihad Cargo matters?
     As Abu Dhabi’s hometown airline to the world, Etihad serves not only the capital city of the United Arab Emirates but is also a magnet to a growing legion of local and international shippers that have discovered the mighty aerial resource situated on Abu Dhabi, a T-shaped island in the Persian Gulf. Today Etihad Airways serves 92 airports in 91 cities from 53 countries.
     The airline has a total fleet of 85 aircraft and flies to over 80 destinations across six continents.
     Abu Dhabi, as it turns toward the future, is a modern city with a rich history, known for its diverse culture, stunning architecture, and commitment to sustainability. The city is home to the Al Ain Oasis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a centuries-old falaj irrigation system that has sustained the region's agriculture for over 3,000 years.Abu Dhabi is also rich in oil and a major hub for international business and lastly or firstly, is the wealthiest Emirate and was crowned “the richest city in the world in 2024” for its jaw dropping staggering $1.7 trillion in capital managed by its Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs). All of this and more will be somewhere in the program when The International Air Cargo Association comes to Abu Dhabi November 4-6 with its Air Cargo Forum.
     Our readers will recall that it was attendance and sponsorship in Dubai that most probably saved TIACA financially and organizationally in 1996. Now one year short of thirty years later TIACA will be back in the Emirates, this time in a beautiful location spotlighting the capital city.
     Will the TIACA showcase finally bring the attention and elevate the awareness of advantages of doing business in Abu Dhabi? A lot of people sure hope so.
     Here Stanislas Brun spells it out. A seasoned senior executive with over 25 years’ experience in global airfreight operations, Stanislas brings deep industry expertise and a proven track record in change management, business development and building top-performing international teams. He holds an Executive MBA from Montpellier Business School and is recognized for his strategic vision and customer-centric approach.

What are you thinking about as Spring 2025 unfolds? Kindly ask you unpack impressions of 2024 — first experiences at Etihad Cargo — both the highs, lows and what surprised you?
SB:   Reflecting on 2024, it was truly a transformative year for Etihad Cargo and for me personally. I joined an organization seeking renewed vision and direction, and together with the team, we built a shared strategy that has shaped our progress. Our primary focus was, and continues to be, the customer. We worked hard to enhance our products and double down on our core strengths.
     As part of that strategy, we made some targeted network decisions. We have reinforced our presence in key markets like China, where our partnership with SF is gaining strong momentum.
     2024 was also significant in terms of direct customer engagement. We intensified our efforts with customer visits and conversations, plus we restructured our commercial organisation to be more agile and aligned. On January 1, 2025 I also took over responsibility for operations, integrating it fully with cargo, a move that’s helping to build stronger alignment and synergy across the division.
     What impressed me most is how much appreciation we’ve received from customers for our service quality. We have one of the highest flown-as-planned rates in the trade. It’s incredibly encouraging to see that recognized and it sets the foundation for deeper customer partnerships.

What lies ahead for 2025 in terms of priorities? Can you offer some sense of regional approach and perhaps some community that might be focusing attention on developing or enhancing service?
SB:   Looking ahead, 2025 is all about preparing for the future while delivering value today. On the passenger side, we’re expanding significantly, adding new aircraft this year and launching 16 new destinations. That growth opens new opportunities for cargo and creates value for both customers and the wider market. Our focus now is building the right organizational structure to be ready for those assets. Regionally, we are adopting a more focused approach, bringing leadership closer to key markets and tailoring strategies to local dynamics

How is Etihad performing overall with some uncertainty in business? What is your outlook and where do you think lies the strength of Etihad Cargo to prevail in the remaining months of 2025?
SB:   Etihad Cargo’s strength lies in our strategic positioning and operational excellence. Abu Dhabi Airport offers world-class infrastructure, particularly for pharmaceuticals and perishables, which are two key verticals for us. That will remain a growth focus.  Our network is growing, customer trust is strong and we’re seeing good demand across multiple segments. The outlook for the remainder of 2025 is solid, and we are confident in our ability to deliver.

What does this industry need to do to mine new talent? What is the Etihad Cargo approach to recruiting and retaining the next generation of logisticians? What is the offer?
SB:   Talent development is a core focus for us. We’ve recently launched a new campaign aimed specifically at attracting and developing Emirati talent, particularly students and graduates, to build the next generation of aviation professionals.
     At the same time, we continue to recruit experienced talent across the industry to maintain a high level of service and commercial excellence. Our approach is dual: building future leaders from within while bringing in senior expertise to ensure we’re delivering for customers today.
It’s this balance between fresh perspective and proven experience that helps us stay competitive, adaptive and customer-focused.

What is on tap for air cargo when TIACA visits Abu Dhabi in November?
SB:   Hosting TIACA in Abu Dhabi this November is a strong statement. It shows that Abu Dhabi is firmly on the global air cargo map. This event will be a major moment for the air freight community and an opportunity to showcase the emirate’s capabilities in pharma, perishables and logistics infrastructure. It’s also a chance to highlight the role of hospitality and connectivity, where Etihad continues to lead as a national carrier. We’re looking forward to welcoming the industry and showing the world what Abu Dhabi has to offer.
Geoffrey Arend

     With Dubai feeling in the rearview mirror it's time to reflect a little on WCS 2025.
     Digitalization was one of the three key agenda items so it was not surprising that you could hardly throw a stone anywhere in the event without hitting somebody or something on this particular subject. But at the same time this is an industry that seems to observe the status quo, one notable comment from the concluding session “Innovation Showcase” was “this industry needs to get better at letting things go,” a remark that resonated for me.
     I would put forward that nowhere in this industry is a better example of a reluctance to let things go than in the management of ULDs which is stuck firmly in the legacy systems of the 1970s with a few bolt on enhancements. It is fair to say that the majority of the ULD-related companies (who made up 20% of the total exhibitors) had on display digital innovations that can deliver significant improvements to the management of these vital assets without which the air cargo industry would grind to a halt—no shortage of ideas.
     So why are matters still stuck firmly in the 1970’s? The issue here is the siloed nature of this industry, the airlines, the ground handlers and cargo terminals and the forwarders, all of whom derive significant advantages from the intermodal efficiency of ULD, but with a few exceptions wash their hands of all but the most basic responsibilities when it comes to taking matters forward.
     Having banged on about the importance of ULD for almost half a century, even the smallest chink of progress is welcome, so I was delighted to spend a considerable time on the subject with FIATA President Turgut Erkeskin, explaining how the various digital initiatives being developed by the ULD industry can benefit his members.
     And I was also very much impressed with the presentation on the A350F made by Frederic Brocard of Airbus which showed how this freighter will embody a whole new level of digital connectivity‑functions, which we were told, will also be retrofittable into earlier Airbus freighter aircraft—this development which has very significant flight safety implications is a giant step forward.
     Coming away from Dubai, my head full of the ambitious expansion plans for the UAE aviation sector over the next ten or so years, I was able to feel slightly optimistic that there is at least a snail-like progress in digitalizing the world of ULD. 
     Of course, in true WCS style the show included a spectacular gala dinner graciously hosted by Emirates Sky Cargo at The Palm on April 16.
     Let’s see what WCS 2026 in Lima brings.
Bob Rogers