FlyingTalkers By Geoffrey Arend

RAP is normally connected with modern music. Not for FIATA members, though, who immediately recognize the acronym with Region Asia Pacific, i.e. the regional assembly of the association members of the region. This group is chaired by Yukki Nugrahawan Hanafi, nominated by the Indonesian association member.
     One may wonder what has the title to do with the RAP meeting. Well, we asked AI. It came to assist with this explanation: “In the context of wood, ‘tap’ typically refers to the act of creating a threaded hole in wood using a tap tool. This process allows bolts or screws with matching threads to be easily attached and detached. It can also mean making a hole in a tree trunk to extract sap, like in maple syrup production.”
     The thought process parallel tells you that the recently-concluded FIATA-RAP field meeting at Delhi (May 21-24, 2025) achieved its goals strengthening India’s position in the context of its continental geographic position, putting India on the stage for global dialogue and, more importantly, the fragrant takeaway of the gathering will hopefully spark transformation and engagement with global industry leaders, as it appeared through a series of active discussions on the future of supply chain innovation in the Asia-Pacific region.
     Partnered by the Air Cargo Agents Association of India (ACAAI), the 2025 FIATA Region Asia Pacific (RAP) event highlighted India’s growing economic significance on the global stage.  Speaking on the side-lines of the RAP meet, FIATA President Turgut Erkeskin pointed out India’s importance in global trade. India, he said, had become a major player in the global air cargo market. FIATA’s endeavour was to connect and support members and country-based organisations to boost trade. He noted that India had committed to major investments in infrastructure and policy. The country’s manufacturing and consumption had gone up significantly and that had increased the “demand for the air cargo, particularly for high-value, time-sensitive goods such as electronics, pharmaceuticals and perishables.” However, he also emphasised that there were challenges. Erkeskin mentioned that both Mumbai and Delhi airports were saturated and this has led to “delays in cargo handling and increased costs”. He mentioned that the “state-level regulations can complicate operations for air cargo providers” and all this needed attention. Commending the government for “expanding global routes and improving Customs procedures,” the FIATA president highlighted that these moves went a long way to “boost India’s growing role.”

Face To Face On Fire At Hong Kong TIACAHactl - Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited CEO Wilson Kwong and The International Air Cargo Association TIACA Executive Director Glyn Hughes at the TIACA Executive Summit go up close and personal in a wide-ranging, no holds barred conversation this week.Glyn: Please provide a background of the real Wilson Kwong.Wilson: Been closely associated with air cargo for 7 years. Started on the passenger side.At Hactl the least important person is me.

Those who were in Munich recently for Transport Logistic Munich know that international trade, which is the main engine behind global logistics, is thriving on one side, whilst running its greatest risks at the same time. Clearly some of those in the attendance were not comfortable with the ‘elephant in the room’, others simply ignored it. Fact is trade negotiations 2.0 have started and nobody really knows where they are heading.

Transport Logistic takes off June 2-5, at Munich Trade Centre,with Air Cargo Europe, the icing on a giant logistics confab as a partner event, whichmanaged to combine different interests in logistics in order to attract large crowds from all over the world. No one is quite sure how much audience spillover occurs between the venues, which in the case of air cargo organizersclaims more than 262 exhibitors from 46 countries in a gigantic venue of 15,000 meters.

But one fact is undeniable: this is the world’s biggest and most important logistics event, whether you attend as a big company, small Mom & Pop outfit, or even if you are just going to walk around and take in the view.

I was born in Toledo, Ohio in 1941 to my truly beautiful andloving mother, Eleanor Jane. During wartime with Dad in the Navy, our localsuper business Libbey Owens Glass hired the both of us to pose for a magazinead for their glass brick. The advertising agency’s people put Mom in a DorothyDress (Wizard of Oz, 1939), as it was still on folks’ mind I suppose. Thepicture here tells you the story better than a thousand words.

In addition to some money, we obtained several cases of glass brickdelivered to our Toledo home. That brick has moved with us all these years;some of it was installed in our current home as solid basement windows, butthat is not the only place where the shiny bricks managed to get a prominent,luminous function! The bricks’ legacy, which strongly relates to my mother’smemory brings back other recollections, meandering through my feelings toeventually reach my beloved wife Sabiha, the mother of everybody else in myfamily and my strong ally in my work.

GeoffreyArend of  Air Cargo News (that’s me, folks!) met Jeffrey Van Haeften, Senior Vice Presidentof Commercial, Emirates SkyCargo, just before IATA’s WCS in Dubai in thespringtime. 
     Originallyit was an interview, but in the end it became something more thoughtful andunexpected and it is best told as a short essay. With our readers’ support wegive you Van Haeften’s views on air cargo, trade events and beyond, in firstperson(s). 

Jeffrey speaking to Geoffrey . . . “Throughout my career, I have had the pleasure of working with anumber of great leaders and team members, and I have learned key skills fromall of them, whether it is a creative way of problem solving, the importance ofdiplomacy, tools for better collaboration or decisive decision making. In myexperience, the most effective and impactful leaders are convincing but alsoopen to being convinced. They are open to the perspectives and opinion fromdifferent people and welcome healthy debate, as long as all interactions areunderpinned by respect. These are facts that made me what I am today and I amthankful to all these exceptional individuals.” Why in Dubai was the question on our lips and . . . “As home to so many encounters including the event that broughtTIACA back in 1996, Dubai has improved in the quality of industry events. Industry events remain an important part of our calendar, from meeting andnetworking with customers, both existing and potential, to showcasing thelatest we have to offer. One challenge, if we have to find one and this is notexclusive to logistics, is to continue the conversation post-event, especiallywhen it comes to industry-wide discussions or advancements.
     Dubai as host city for World Cargo Symposium bringsthe hope of promise to an entire industry by gathering some of the best andbrightest logisticians on the planet. IATA’s World Cargo Symposium is thelargest and most prestigious air cargo annual event and we are very pleasedthat this year’s event will be hosted in Dubai. The themes of digitalisation,sustainability and safety and security are very relevant both for our industryand Dubai, a city which exemplifies the success that can be built on commerce,

Welcome to The Flying Typers Broadcast….

Today March into April at jet speed  and spend just a couple minutes is a message from our sponsor United Airlines Cargo…….

What is United Cargo?

Reliable. Fast. Everywhere You Need.

From Coast to Coast—and Everywhere in Between.

When it comes to domestic air cargo, businesses need apartner with the network, speed, and reliability to keep shipments moving efficiently.

United Cargo delivers on all fronts.

Our expansive network features seven major hubs, service toover 100 domestic stations, and more than 4,500 daily flights. This means that. whether your cargo is coming from our West Coast hubs in Los Angeles (LAX) andSan Francisco (SFO), connecting through the heartland in Chicago (ORD), Denver (DEN), and Houston (IAH), or heading to the East Coast via Newark (EWR) and Washington Dulles (IAD), every link in the chain is optimized. We pay specialattention to the critical points between hubs ensuring that shipments travel smoothly and reliably from one region to the next.

Whether it’s same-day delivery, next-day service, orsomething in between, United Cargo provides the flexibility and efficiency businesses need to stay competitive. With unmatched frequency and capacity, our industry-leading service minimizes delays and offers cost-effective optionsacross our diverse fleet—from widebody to narrowbody flights. United Cargo is proud to be the preferred carrier for domestic cargo, leading the movement ofmovement coast to coast and everywhere in between.

Customers First: A Commitment to Service

At United Cargo, our mission is simple: Put Customers First,always. Our teams work together to provide creative solutions that meet theunique needs of each business. From dedicated service teams ensuring efficient damage free handling to temperature-sensitive and high-value shipments, everypart of our operation is built with one goal in mind—getting shipments where they need to go, on time and intact.

Our dedicated customer care team is available to provideexpert support, ensuring a seamless shipping experience from booking to final delivery.

Behind the scenes, our warehouse and operations teams work around the clock to keep shipments moving efficiently. By leveraging the power of unitedcargo.com, customers can access digital tools for booking, tracking, andmanaging shipments with ease.

With a focus on reliability, responsiveness, and tailoredlogistics solutions, United Cargo is committed to delivering the best possible service—because when our customers succeed, we succeed.

 Innovation That Moves Air Cargo Forward

Innovation is at the heart of everything we do. In a rapidlyevolving industry, United Cargo is committed to delivering cutting-edge digital solutions that make air freight faster, smarter, and more efficient. 

Our investment in enhanced booking platforms,automation, and API integrations are designed to provide our customers with seamless access to capacity and real-time shipment tracking. We’re also expanding into B2B marketplaces, ensuring customers can find and book capacity in just a few clicks. As we continue to modernize our digital infrastructure, we are focused on making shipping with United Cargo easier, more transparent,and more reliable than ever.

After a long journey, as both Italian andSwiss railways decided that this Sunday was the best day for network and equipment maintenance, I arrived in Geneva after dusk.

On Monday 17th ofMarch at 9 o’ clock, as sharp as a Swiss clock, the FIATA Headquarters’ meeting began with a rather ambitious programme, harbouring the desire to “provide participants with key market trends and trade developments as well as an external outlook in corridors and logistics in an uncertain environment.”Michael McKay kicked the ball with some historical and cultural background for the city of Geneva, a crossroad for the world of trade and an international meeting magnet: 5,000 conferences annually, half a million delegates, 43 high level international organizations based in Geneva . . . shall we name them all? One for all: the Red Cross/Red Crescent. Turgut Erkeskin    President Turgut Erkeskin welcomed 200+ delegates at FIATA’s HQ from 51 countries: “this year, speakers and moderators have been invited from all over the world” to animate several sessions. Among the achievements of FIATA, Turgut mentioned the excellent work with many internationalorganizations, theachievements in FIATA’s digital policy and risk and insurance and cybersecurity policies. He also gave account of a new regional engagement programme, which – for the first time this year – will see FIATA organizing regional meetings in all regions, starting with Zanzibar, then India, Brazil and Prague in the EU. “FIATA remains focused on trade facilitation,” declared Turgut.

Come April 2, U.S. President Donald Trump will becelebrating a “liberating day” because, as he stated, “we’re getting back someof the wealth that very, very foolish Presidents gave away because they had noclue what they were doing.”

Is India ready to counter the U.S.’s reciprocal tariffs?

As April approaches, the pressing question is not just aboutthe effects of these tariffs, but how to remain protected when PresidentTrump’s reciprocal tariffs take effect on April 2.

Hot topic touching nearly every trade show and ndustry gatherng. Here s what you need to know before those meetngs.