David Gunnarsson - CEO of DOHOP based in ICELAND

Any football fan will remember the Icelandic Viking Thunder Clap chant in support of their team during Euro 2016

Dohop, as a company has evolved from building online solutions for travellers into a high-tech provider for the airline industry, catering to several airlines around the globe, and redefining the concept of travel connectivity in a digital world.

From a financial sector background, David has positioned DOHOP as a useful 'product' within connectivity options between carriers.

Efficiency - Time - Cost, three areas that are important when combining carrier options to facilitate the quickest or most interesting, combined services.

A great reference to 'snowflakes' and also the benefits of COLD SHOWERS.

The Weekend Show

Fast and Furious - moving at pace this week.

Started with good news about Spain opening up from Monday. Happy days!

Other issues covered:

• Great podcast session with Chellie Cameron - CEO Philadelphia International Airport.
• • Doing great things
  • PRIDE - People, Respect, Integrity, Diversity & Excellence
  • Data sharing -- we must be more open
  • LHR - PHL MOU 
  • 100 Acre site for Cargo Development
• LHR - Queues improving
• • Pax segregation according to zones
• Positive outlook for easyJet / Ryanair and BA - as countries open up
• WFS, good news in US with many contracts
• Leadership and Experience - how do we bridge the gap and the opportunity moving forward

Next week's show - Questions from Listeners.

Great chat with Steve Smith - President & CEO of Airlink

• Disaster Logistics
• Humanitarian - NGO's
• Non-profit organisation
• • Great Purpose & Values
  • CARGO CARES at its best
  • National Disasters
  • High profile current focus - India appeal 
  • Also, St.Vincent - Grenadines
  • So many positive examples of how to help and why

• GREAT SUPPORT from the industry 
• • Many carriers supporting so many great causes 
  • Shout out to Flexport
  • Charters also being organised
  • Regional Response Framework

So many great examples of logistics at their best.

Well done to Airlink and the team - continue the great work!

Some good - some bad!

Ref to Airlink and great humanitarian work - Steve Smith

• Still Queues at LHR - WHY?
• BA trials Pelican Covid rapid testing
• Ups - Downs - Red Green - again WHY no consistency?
• IATA and Willie Walsh
• • Great CAPA delivery
  • What needs to be done by IATA
  • Different focus - represent all members not elitist 'Champions League' category
• Further restrictions on Cargo causing ripple effect i.e. from Cars to consumer electronics and CHIPS.
• COMPETENCY MOBILITY
• Learning while earning!

Usual banter and debate - always a pleasure.

What should have been Session 10 - Chapter 9 - Advancing

Technology Detour and off-piste excursion -- Turbulence the boxset or film.

Enough content to stimulate scriptwriters or producers. Aviation History and the personal experiences of living with and living in the many changes of our industry. • 5 decades of memories - facts and figures • Terror events, hijackings, crashes • Labor relations, employee threats, and intimidation • Fundraising, IPOs, acquisitions, mergers, and contract challenges • Jamaica drug lords, FBI sting, locker searches • Pax trying to open door on flight from LHR to LAX, naked female off a flight from SFO • Crew parties, temptation, and romance • Second chances and life-changing decision making • Career and family conflicts -- the right decision or major regret • Many firsts - many successes - learning from mistakes • A journey from youthful ambition to wisdom and memories Ending with 23 great examples of 'food for thought'.. One special message - "Invest part of your treasure in memories"

Topical session with Michael in light of the recent shipment of mobiles catching fire in HKG.
Another warning sign – another investigation. How will it influence what must be done?

A basket full of Why’s?

• Why do these things keep happening?
• Why do we not get together and make some clear rules and expectations?
• Why do we allow organisations to avoid regulation or license if involved in transportation of goods by Air / Sea/ Rail or road?
• Why do governments not make a stand?
• Why does the entire supply chain be allowed to avoid required best practice?
• Why is the ‘green back’ able to influence controls to such a degree?
• Why do we not have smart data transparency to ‘assist’ the system in reducing risk?
• Why is there not more relevant and detailed training for all parties coming in contact or touching / deciding on how, when, and where to load or build a pallet/container?
• Why do we not focus on Just Culture promotion more and more?
• Why does C-Suite not take detailed notice in training and competence as well as control and accountability?
• Why does the industry not just say NO and enough is enough?
• Why is eComm and POST allowed to bypass normal restrictions and compliance guidelines?
• Why is there so much Lithium Battery Debate, because if we don’t act it could be too late!

As always with Michael – a great exchange of opinion, ideas and consideration.

Glad to have my partner back again after his hibernation. 

Full of energy and opinion - it was a real LIVE show - actually, waiting for and during the announcements of travel bands! 

In addition, some live coverage of 'how to keep your house spick and span' with a new guest - Nellie. 

Points also covered: 

• India development - international support & also need for own self accountability in certain areas 
• Vaccines -- big impact and needs to be rolled out quickly - everywhere. HOWEVER - not a panacea or free immunity pass. We must still be cautious! 
• Variants of concern 
• Price rises and expected demand inflation  
• Political results in UK and perhaps a much overdue change in how the people judge politicians. Food for thought! 
• Need to focus on some basics or else: 
• • Accountability 
  • Risk Awareness 
  • Sustainability 
  • Education 

Christopher Marich, Co-Founder and Global Strategy Director - MySky - HQ Switzerland

Chris is a charismatic and energetic young man clearly enjoying his business and opportunities. Together with Kirill Kim a successful entrepreneur specializing in the banking and finance industry they have created an independent tech platform to control costs and save time while running private jets and flights.

During the session we discuss:

• From Audit to Spend Management
• Analysis of the past - present and the future
• Areas to overcome:
• • No standardization
  • Fragmentation
  • Opacity
  • Outdated processes
  • Small margins - limited visibility into budgets 

We cover 5 Things - prospective aircraft owners should know before entering the market:

1. Efficiency is cash in the bank!
2. 20% of spend could be reduced
3. Make informed financial decisions
4. Transparency is key
5. Insist on a clear picture of the total ownership cost and how they are benchmarked?

Session 9 - Chapter 8 - Ensuring Security

• Comparison of the Old days and the age of innocence with the current focus on security and awareness of growing risk and threat
• As one pandemic teaches us so many things another could be brewing - Cybersecurity which could also handicap our industry
• Younger generations more aware of process restrictions, guidelines, rules & regulations
• From the airport and buy a ticket to the gate and straight on the plane
• What was taken on board as opposed to today's restrictions
• Hijackings/sky marshals
• Lockerbie
• 9/11
• A different world!

Almost a third of the year has now gone.

THANK YOU For sticking with us.

Awards and recognitions. A quick round-up of who we would be nominating if we were actually making awards.

• Front-liners - NHS
• Industry journalists
• ICAO
• Preighters
• Iata/tiaca/asa-aca/aci
• Vaccines - scientists
• Innovation - Sustainability 
• AWB and reducing paperwork -- now or never -- Willie on a Mission!
• Going Green
• Biometrics- technology

MAY - so much promise!