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Industry stalwart Krems to retire as United Cargo president

United Cargo president Jan Krems will retire from the role at the end of September to be replaced by Chris Busch. Industry stalwart Krems has worked in aviation and cargo for more than four decades and has been president of cargo at United Airlines for more than 12 years. Prior to his role at United, Krems spent around 20 years in various roles at KLM and Air France KLM Martinair, including vice president for the Americas region. In a note to industry colleagues, Krems said he had been proud of what the United Cargo team had achieved during his time at the company. "We strengthened United Cargo's commercial performance, expanded our global reach, advanced innovation, and deepened our commitment to customers around the world. "During the Covid pandemic, we were the first carrier to operate cargo-only flights on passenger aircraft and flew over 17,000 cargo-only flights that helped United endure during an unprecedented time in history. "We have positioned United Cargo as a leader in the industry, with revenue performance two times our nearest US competitor. "I want to sincerely express my thanks for all that we have shared over the years. I could not have had this incredible career in air cargo without your partnership, support, and friendship." In 2025, Krems was inducted into the TIACA Hall of Fame as he was recognised for his "outstanding leadership", "unwavering focus" on the customer experience, and "continuous drive for innovation". "Under his direction, United Cargo has emerged as the largest U.S. combination carrier by air cargo volume -- a testament to his strategic vision and relentless pursuit of excellence," TIACA said. Meanwhile, Busch is currently vice president at United Cargo - a role he has held for the past seven years. He joined United Cargo in 2007 and has held roles covering operations and revenue management before taking on the vice president role in 2019. In his new role, Busch will lead United Cargo's global organisation, overseeing sales and marketing, revenue management, customer service, operational performance, product development and technology initiatives worldwide. "Chris is a highly regarded leader with deep knowledge of our business, strong industry relationships, and a proven track record of delivering results," said Krems. "Over the past 19 years at United, he has led commercial growth across the Americas region while helping strengthen operational performance and customer partnerships. "I am confident that Chris is the right leader to build on the strong foundation we have created and that he will successfully guide United Cargo through its next chapter."

Magma appoints Chapman Freeborn as Greater China GSSA

Chapman Freeborn Greater China has been appointed as sister company Magma Aviation's General Sales and Service Agent (GSSA) across the area. This follows the signing of an agreement on 25 June, said Avia Solutions Group, parent of Chapman Freeborn, which typically provides air charter services but also provides GSSA services in some markets. Chapman Freeborn has a 75% shareholding in Magma Aviation. Air Cargo News has requested more information about the scope of Chapman Freeborn's GSSA services outside of Greater China. Since the launch of Magma Aviation's scheduled Boeing 747-400 freighter services in China, Chapman Freeborn Greater China has supported the airline's commercial development and operational activities in the market. The collaboration also extends to Europe, where Chapman Freeborn Cargo Capacity Management (CCM) in Frankfurt serves as Magma Aviation's General Sales Agent (GSA) and supports its cargo management activities. Building on the companies' cooperation in China and Europe, Chapman Freeborn Greater China's appointment as GSSA marks the next stage of the partnership. Through this expanded collaboration, Magma Aviation will combine its expertise in long-term and ad hoc air cargo charter solutions with Chapman Freeborn Greater China's local market expertise and regional commercial presence. Peter Kerins, chief executive of Magma Aviation, said: "Greater China remains a strategically important market for Magma Aviation. "Appointing CF Greater China as our GSSA further strengthens our presence in the region and reflects our commitment to building closer relationships with our customers through a more localised market approach. "This collaboration will enable us to provide our customers with the flexibility and specialist expertise they expect from Magma Aviation." Allen Liu, president of Chapman Freeborn Greater China, stated: "We are pleased to further strengthen our collaboration with Magma Aviation through this appointment. "Together, we will combine global air cargo capabilities with local market expertise to provide customers across Greater China with broader access to air cargo solutions, responsive support and a seamless service experience."

Air India SATS signs freighter MoUs for recently opened Noida International

Cargo handler Air India SATS (AISATS) has signed two agreements aiming to attract new freighter services to its facility at the recently opened Noida International Airport in northern India. The handler, which is a 50/50 joint venture between Air India and SATS, signed two memoranda of understanding with airlines at the recent Air Cargo Forum India event to explore the addition of freighter operations at its Multi-Modal Cargo Hub (MMCH) facility at the airport in New Delhi. One agreement was with SpiceJet's freighter operating subsidiary SpiceXpress and the other with GSSA Total Solutions. "This collaboration aims to lay the foundation for livestock freighter operations, leveraging the hub's strategic location, world-class infrastructure, and digital capabilities to enable faster, more efficient connectivity to domestic and international markets," AISATS said of the agreement with SpiceXpress. On the agreement with Total Solutions, the handler said: "As cargo activity at Noida International Airport gathers pace, this partnership represents another step towards expanding capacity, enhancing connectivity, and establishing MMCH as a leading freighter hub in the region." The airport commenced flight operations in mid-June and currently has scheduled flights operated by IndiGo and Akasa Air. It was developed by Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL), a 100% subsidiary of Zurich Airport International, together with the Uttar Pradesh and Indian governments. The new airport is intended to relieve pressure on New Delhi's existing airports. The MMCH comprises a cargo terminal and a warehousing and logistics zone, with an annual capacity of around 250,000 tonnes. The logistics zone will offer a transhipment centre, as well as a warehouse zone for freight forwarders and integrators. The MMCH will also provide transportation facilities to support road-to-road, road-to-air, and air-to-road movements. The airport caters for industrial clusters in the National Capital Region and Uttar Pradesh, with the aim of becoming a cargo gateway for Northern India. AISATS handled its inaugural domestic freighter flight at the MMCH in June when an Afcom Boeing 737-800 freighter arrived from Chennai carrying 20 tonnes of cargo ranging from perishables to precision components.