As I write this note, a heatwave is beating down on the UK, signalling the arrival of the busy summer travel season. With air traffic reaching record highs globally, airports and airlines are under increasing pressure to maintain efficient GSE operations, ensure smooth turnarounds, and uphold high safety standards for both passengers and ground handling teams.

In this issue, we bring you the latest developments in the GSE space, focusing on ground power units (GPUs), water and lavatory vehicles, and equipment leasing and rental.

Electrification continues to be at the forefront of the minds of aviation stakeholders. To learn more, I visited ITW GSE's factory in Odense, Denmark, as well as Rushlift GSE's operation at Gatwick Airport, to find out about the companies' approaches to electrification and to discover how new technologies are transforming GSE design and operations.

Moreover, I caught up with Aviator Airport Alliance at IGHC Cairo to gather insights on how the Nordic ground handler is approaching eGSE transition. I also spoke with Mathieu Blondel, co-author of a report on the topic, about the opportunities and challenges associated with decarbonising ground operations.

While sustainability is evidently a key focus for the industry, safety on the apron remains a pressing issue. March saw a tragic incident at New York's LaGuardia Airport, in which an Air Canada plane collided with an Oshkosh Striker 1500 airfield rescue and firefighting (ARFF) vehicle. Megan Ramsay explores the circumstances that led to the accident, as well as wider advancements in ARFF technology and design.

An additional challenge in flight safety is also emerging: bird strikes, which can result in serious damage to aircraft and, in rare cases, have caused engine failure. Tony Harrington investigates whether enough is being done to tackle the issue.

We also welcome back a guest writer, Mark Finch, who pens an insightful article on GSE pooling.

The latest bouts of extreme geopolitical turbulence in the last year to 18 months have triggered a variety of short-term and longer-term responses to keep supply chains moving to, from, through, or around different parts of the world. This issue of the magazine examines some of these shifts in patterns and processes through the experiences of air cargo stakeholders, from various perspectives. For example, Washington's trade war, modal shift, and supply chain restructuring are among the factors affecting pharma air logistics supply chains, as manufacturers seek to minimise risks and costs, and improve quality and resilience, as discussed in the Pharma report (page 4). Meanwhile, new packaging innovations and cost pressures have encouraged a move from active containers towards passive solutions. The Middle East report (page 16) explores how the sector has adapted to this year's extraordinary challenges and fast-changing developments, within a high-risk, highly volatile environment. Among the many reflections, these developments have underscored the region's importance within interconnected global supply chains, and the ability of air cargo stakeholders to keep cargo moving despite extreme disruptions. The situation in the Middle East has also added to various already fast-evolving dynamics in Africa's air cargo markets (page 10), as geopolitical shifts push more traffic through this continent, and where reliability, flexibility, and smarter digital execution are increasingly valued amid the continuing infrastructure challenges. The recent turbulence has further underlined air cargo stakeholders' extraordinary agility, and the crucial role the sector plays in global trade resilience and economic growth. It also illustrates the growing role of data and technology in resilience and reacting rapidly, effectively, and efficiently to fast-changing circumstances. The magazine also highlights the increasing contribution generative Ai is beginning to make and expected to deliver, but also air cargo's role in transporting global Ai-related goods. These were among the themes at IATA's World Cargo Symposium in March, highlighted in the WCS Conference Report (page 52). The magazine also features an in-depth Women in Air Cargo report (page 32) exploring the state of gender diversity within the sector following the conclusion in December of IATA's 25by2025 initiative. It examines, among other things, why IATA's 18-person Cargo Advisory Council is currently 100% male, and what progress is being made to strengthen diversity in air cargo leadership pipelines. It also asks various women working within air cargo about their experiences, what has supported and encouraged them, and what more needs to be done to improve diversity – which is vital for good decision-making, for optimising the talent pool, and creating a workplace and workforce fit for the future.

In this episode, host Chris Notter sits down with Desiree Perez, the Chief Operating Officer at EvolveWell. They explore the evolving relationship between people and AI in today's fast-paced world. Desiree shares insights on how organisations can harness technology to empower their people, foster a culture of care, and build resilient leadership. Join them as they discuss the future of work, the importance of proactive development, and how companies can thrive by focusing on people-first leadership.

Trying to predict the outlook for commercial aviation is a fool's game. The only real certainty, is that there will be uncertainty. And so it has proved again. The backdrop to this year had looked relatively encouraging for the aviation industry, albeit with the headwinds that have clipped growth in the sector remaining. These include disruption to trade flows amid tariffs and countermeasures, ongoing aircraft and engine availability issues, and continued pockets of conflict and geopolitical disruption – not least the war in Ukraine, which has now entered its fifth year. Yet these were challenges airlines and the air travel market had adapted to, learnt to live with and – for the aircraft and engine shortage at least – had reason to believe the industry might be over the worst. However, the Israeli and US air strikes on Iran and the latter's subsequent retaliatory action has caused another rupture in the aviation industry, notably reaching points in the Gulf that had previously seemed immune when problems previously flared in the region. Such has been the growth of the Gulf carriers and their hubs, that their closure – even if only temporarily – is felt across the global industry. In the near-term, airline network planners have swiftly adapted to the resulting new traffic flow trends, be they positive or negative, as travellers adjusted their plans and sought alternatives to the Gulf hubs for eastwest routings. It remains to be seen how long these short-term adaptions will last. The related pressure on fuel costs weighs heavy on airlines, too. Oil prices have surged since the Iran hostilities began; the barrel price of Brent crude oil passing the $100 mark for the first time in three and a half years. It was partly the benign price of oil which helped fuel airline profits last year. Any protracted rise in fuel costs will likely result in greater capacity caution ahead. The fuel price also intersects with the ongoing aircraft and engine supply chain issues, in that one of the mitigating actions to offset delayed deliveries and increased engine maintenance requirements was to keep operating less fuel-efficient older aircraft for longer. Higher fuel costs mean the economics of this solution may no longer add up for some carriers. The crisis, then, is a reminder of how connected the aviation industry remains, even in areas relatively removed from the crisis flash points. Routes Americas was held in Brazil at the start of March and Latin America felt about as "business as usual" a part of the world as it was possible to find. Latin America's airline industry largely thrived in 2025, increasing passenger numbers 7% and returning to a collective profit. Notably, Brazil's big three carriers have now all completed financial restructurings and are eyeing profitable growth ahead. The extent to which they can do so this year may yet, though, depend on how events in the Middle East play out.

The world has not felt this scary since the 1980s, when the Cold War suddenly became frigid. A new war against Iran, fermented over decades of distrust and now encouraged to spill over into armed conflict, has inevitably brought disruption to the Middle East and as far away as Cyprus. Global transport hubs, including airports, have taken missile and drone hits, threatening civilians and the region's key business and VIP aviation infrastructure. We have also seen a bizarre presidential proclamation aimed at Canada's civilian aircraft regulator thrust business aviation unexpectedly into the international spotlight. It seemed to take most industry insiders by surprise, sending them scurrying to discover if it had any legal foundation at all. Meanwhile, as we lurch from one geopolitical crisis to another, let us not forget Venezuela, Mexico and the still-raging, bloody war between Russia and Ukraine. The market has largely adapted to the repercussions of the latter conflict, while the very end of February and first days of March have seen business jets positioning away from airports under threat in the Gulf, as airspace closures allow. The impact in the longer term remains uncertain, but elsewhere the business of business aviation continues with its usual resilience. On that basis, in this issue we look at a cross-section of FBOs from across the US, discovering the expected dedication to customer service and safety, but also an underlying enthusiasm simply for being around aviation. In some cases the bug seems to have bitten especially hard, evidenced through the thoughts of Tony Buckley, President & CEO of jetCenters of Colorado and Customer Service Manager Kawai Lopez at Monterey Jet Center, among others. Thanks to Bombardier and the Global 8000, we also celebrate the brilliance of business aviation that can sometimes be dulled through familiarity, while our conversation with Jeremy Phillips, General Manager at Sheltair Melbourne, might alter your perception of the industry and what it is capable of. Connectivity is now an essential element in passenger experience, and Claudio D'Amico, Vice President of Strategic Market Engagement, Business Aviation at Viasat explains how the communications giant is working to integrate Telesat Lightspeed LEO into its business aviation connectivity portfolio. While D'Amico is satisfying our demands to remain connected, busy and entertained, Matteo Atti, Global Chief Marketing Officer at VistaJet, explains how the company is helping passengers arrive at their best, through its new Sleep Program. Sometimes the best stories are found behind details so obvious we overlook them. We discover from Paul Kinch, Managing Director MRO at Gama Aviation, the quite different approaches required for painting a VIP helicopter compared to a business jet, and from Richard Marston, MAAS Aviation's Chief Commercial Officer, the physicality of painting larger aircraft. Finally, to leather, a staple of almost every business jet and VIP helicopter cabin. We appreciate leather for how it looks and feels but perhaps never really think any more of it. But people have been making and using leather since the Stone Age, so it has quite a story to tell and we are delighted to bring just a taster of that tale to you through conversations with executives from Bombardier, Garrett Leather, Gen Phoenix & Townsend Leather.

In the Spring 2026 edition of Airside International, we bring you the latest innovations in the GSE industry, including developments in pushback tractors, apron buses, aircraft washing, and second-hand equipment. Across these markets, one development in particular is coming to the fore as the year begins: electrification. Electric GSE offers numerous advantages; in particular, its long-term cost savings, quieter operation and environmental benefits have prompted airports and ground handlers to accelerate electrification of their fleets. We hear from several manufacturers about how they are navigating the delicate balance between producing electric equipment and ensuring that charging infrastructure can keep pace with demand. On the apron bus front, we interview two companies that are driving forward smaller, bespoke shuttle solutions – which do not require human drivers. This technology could one day become a familiar sight as operators look for new ways to efficiently transport passengers between the gate and the aircraft. Automation is also playing a role elsewhere on the airside, as we speak to one Swedish company about its deployment of aircraft washing robots. In addition, we explore innovation in air traffic control (ATC), including how digital ATC towers are transforming the way in which controllers monitor the runway, alongside an insight into one company's modernisation of ATC training with 3D immersive technology. Tony Harrington investigates the potential revival of the turboprop in the North American market and highlights how airports in remote mining regions of outback Australia are advancing net-zero operations, while Megan Ramsay examines how sustainability and digitalisation trends are shaping GSE buyers' decisions. I thank William Hallowell for his exemplary tenure as editor of Airside, and I am looking forward to continuing to delve into this fascinating industry as I step into the role of chief reporter.

In the turbulence and uncertainty of the past 12 months, some new patterns have emerged, while certain old trends, tendencies and truths have been further highlighted, underlined and reinforced – or in some cases, left behind. Many of these are illustrated in the accounts of air cargo industry experts and senior stakeholders within the Outlook 2026 Report within this magazine (pages 4-49). Senior industry leaders from freight forwarding companies, carriers, airports, cargo handlers, technology specialists, associations, and other organisations describe their recent experiences and how they have responded to key changing market conditions and circumstances, and new trends and patterns. Emerging themes include the ever-increasing importance of resilience, responsiveness, visibility, and good data. Ai is mentioned frequently, and you will have your own experiences with this. New use cases within air cargo will continue to emerge this year, and air cargo will continue to play a key role in transporting the semiconductors and other technologies that support its development – and the wider supply chains of this and other verticals – as cargo owners and their logistics partners navigate complex and fast-changing tariff, trade, and competitive dynamics. Some of these trends are explored in further detail within the report on North America (page 50), where stakeholders have faced the sharp end of fast-changing tariff and trade rules. In the GSA Interviews section (pages 57-65), GSAs highlight how recent market changes have affected their businesses, and new trends in outsourcing airline cargo sales, services and operations – where closer partnerships and predictive data are particularly emphasised. And in the Technology Interview (page 68), CargoAI CEO Matt Petot outlines how innovation, automation, and Ai are steadily redefining how the industry operates. In the 'year of the wood snake' that we recently left, many companies and individuals have needed to shed old skins and past behaviours, expectations, and business practices, amid last year's extreme geopolitical and trade turbulence, and further advances in Ai. The 'year of the fire horse' seems sure to bring new dynamic challenges – and opportunities for those agile and versatile enough to respond positively to them. The next issue of CAAS will include a substantial article on 'Women in Air Cargo', based around the conclusion of IATA's 25by2025 initiative and interviews with a variety of women working at senior levels within air cargo and allied sectors. It was originally planned for this Spring edition, but I have rescheduled it in order to strengthen the article by including a wider diversity of voices. It will be part of a greater focus within CAAS on people issues within the sector, which will include topics such as training, recruitment, and diversity.

We're kicking off 2026 with a very special guest: Denis Duarte, VP of Cargo Development at Fraport. Dennis isn't just a powerhouse in the cargo world; he's also an old friend and a true industry visionary. We dive into his journey, the big leaps happening in air freight, and how Frankfurt Airport is gearing up to be a game-changer in e-commerce and digitalisation.

Join us as Denis shares his passion for building a next-level cargo community and what it means to shape the future of airport logistics. Whether you're in the industry or just curious about the behind-the-scenes magic of global cargo, this conversation is a must-listen. Thanks for tuning in!

In this episode, Chris is joined by Desiree Perez, Founder & MD of Desiree Perez Coaching & Consulting, from Florida. With nearly 20 years in aviation, Desiree shares powerful insights on leadership, people development, culture, and why so many organisations face the same challenges around engagement, turnover, and performance. We discuss generational shifts in the workforce, fear-based leadership, the importance of attitude over CVs, and how operations, strategy, and people must work together. Desiree also introduces Skypulse, an innovative platform designed to support recruitment, onboarding, frontline learning, and real-time employee engagement. A must-watch conversation for anyone passionate about leadership and the future of aviation.

A further raft of recent aircraft orders illustrates there is no let-up in airlines positioning themselves to meet long-term travel demand. To some extent it is a product of the timelines of manufacturer backlogs, which make securing fresh narrowbody capacity before the next decade challenging, and even more so for widebodies. But while the rationale for the bulk of orders is now around securing delivery slots into the 2030s, there was a nuance to some of the eye-catching deals unveiled during November's Dubai Airshow. Take Emirates' follow-on order for 65 more Boeing 777-9s. On the one hand this marks a timely recommitment to a much-delayed programme – Boeing having recently further pushed back first deliveries into 2027. But there is also a longer game. Emirates has not given up on persuading the manufacturer to build a larger version – backing a Boeing 'feasibility study' for a stretched 777-10. This would offer a future aircraft sized at least one step closer to the Airbus A380s, a backbone of its fleet today. By contrast the order from fellow UAE carrier Etihad Airways, which signed for Airbus A330-900s alongside a further batch of A350s, has a nearer-term focus. The airline's move for A330s was driven by a desire to get hold of aircraft sooner. It is working with Avolon to take delivery of some of these aircraft from 2027 – securing some of the nearest delivery slots available. For Etihad Chief Executive Antonoaldo Neves the addition of the A330neos is not about a change in network strategy. Rather, he noted that the timing and performance will enable the carrier to release aircraft to other missions. But for most airlines, the driving factor of orders is repeat business and building out future deliveries to meet long-term growth. Kazakhstan airline group Air Astana, for example, having simplified its fleet almost entirely around A321neo jets and Boeing 787s, doubled down by placing follow-on commitments for both types in November to fuel growth in the next decade. What also remains clear is the geographic direction of travel. While all airlines are caught in the rush to secure slots, recent sizeable orders are skewed towards growth and emerging markets. A prime case is the Philippines, where flag carrier Philippine Airlines and low-cost unit Cebu Pacific are growing sharply, as the respective chief executives outlined at Routes World in October. Growth for both carriers will be further fuelled by a planned new hub airport for the country's capital Manila which could eventually handle 200 million passengers. The growth potential is underlined by Association of Asia Pacific Airilnes Director General Subhas Menon, who while flagging current challenges in the market, points to the strong fundamentals driving long-term growth in the region.