11:00 Registration Opens 

13:30 – Welcoming Remarks 

JJ Hornblass, Chairman of Cargo Facts, will open the conference with introductory remarks, welcoming attendees and setting the stage for an afternoon of meaningful connections and industry insights. He will be followed by welcoming remarks from Geert Aerts, Chief Cargo & Real Estate Officer at Brussels Airport Company.

13:40 – 14:40 Opening Session 1 (Panel) 

The New Era of Cargo Route Development in an Age of Geopolitical Turmoil

• State of global cargo demand, e-commerce and trade flows, and its implications for route strategies 

• Impact of tariffs, geopolitical disruptions, and regionalization 

• How belly capacity and freighter fleets are being rebalanced worldwide 

PANELISTS:

• Gudny Genskowsky, SVP of Alliances & Network, LATAM Cargo
• Peter Kerins, Chief Executive Officer, Magma Aviation
• Steven Verhasselt, Managing Partner, FB Cargo Strategy

MODERATOR:

• Guillermo Ochovo, Director, Cargo Facts Consulting

14:40 – 15:10 Session 2 (Presentation) 

Profitability Under Pressure: Route Economics in Uncertain Markets 

• Cost-per-flight-hour metrics, and other benchmarks, for better network decisions 

• Managing volatile fuel and maintenance costs across the full route network 

• Diversification and long-term contracts to foster business stability

PRESENTER:

• Oğuzhan Cerrah, Vice President of Cargo Network Planning & Development, Turkish Airlines

MODERATOR:

• Guillermo Ochovo, Director, Cargo Facts Consulting

15:10 – 15:40 Break 

15:40 – 16:30 Session 3 (Panel) 

E-commerce Growth: Route Challenges and Opportunities  

• Update on e-commerce trends shaping Asian, LatAm, and U.S. route networks 

• Investing in e-commerce hubs at major airports 

• Balancing consumer-driven cargo with regional tensions

PANELISTS:

• Christian Harupa, VP Global Business Development, Rhenus Logistics
• Mariusz Kuczek, Business Development Manager, Katowice Airport
• Steven Polmans, SVP of Cargo, Swissport

MODERATOR:

• Robert Luke, Senior Associate Editor, Cargo Facts

17:00 Cocktail Reception 

08:00 Registration Opens 

09:00 Opening Remarks 

09:15 – 10:15 Session 4 (Panel) 

Airport Infrastructure & Slot Access for Better Cargo Performance 

• Coping with reduced cargo slot availability at primary hubs 

• Overcoming challenges in shifting to secondary airports with efficient trucking networks 

• How airport ground congestion, infrastructure and the current war in Iran can impede cargo operations

PANELISTS:

• Eduard Molkenboer, Head of Cargo, Royal Schiphol Group
• Zachary Oakley, Executive Director, Chicago Rockford International Airport

10:15 – 11:00 Session 5 

Fireside Chat with Andres Bianchi, CEO of LATAM Cargo

A one-on-one discussion with Andres Bianchi, on the carrier’s freighter network, route strategy, geopolitics, and overall goals and best practices. 

MODERATOR:

• JJ Hornblass, Founder & CEO, Royal Media

11:00 – 11:30 Morning Break 

11:30 – 12:30 Session 6 (Panel) 

Forwarders, Shippers & Airline Partnerships: Collaboration for Success 

• Forwarder influence in route selection and own-controlled arrangements 

• What’s new in global cargo alliances and interline cooperation 

• Balancing local shipper working relationships with the demands of global partners 

PANELISTS:

• John Maclennan, Managing Director – Belgium, Silkway West Airlines
• Jag Nadrajah, Head of Air Partners, Teleport
• Bert Selis, VP Business Development E-commerce & Freight Forwarding Handling EMEAA, WFS

MODERATOR:

• Robert Luke, Senior Associate Editor, Cargo Facts

12:30 Lunch & Spotlight Presentation by Diamond Sponsor Boeing

PRESENTER:

• Joshua Collingwood, Regional Marketing Director, Airline Network and Fleet Planning, Boeing

Sponsored by:

13:45 – 14:45 Session 7 (Panel) 

Specialty Cargo: Cold Chain, Live Animals & Hazardous Materials 

• Infrastructural needs for temperature-sensitive, live animal and oversize cargo 

• Finding the right airport to support specialty cargo demand 

• Partnering to ensure the safety of dangerous goods in transit 

PANELISTS:

• Laetitia Chery, VP Pharma & Healthcare EMEA, JAS Worldwide
• Celine Crahay, Founder & Managing Director, 3CeL SàRL
• Samuel Speltdoorn, Global Head, Healthcare Solutions, Nippon Express

MODERATOR:

• Jeff Lee, Editor, Cargo Facts

14:45 Afternoon Break 

15:15 – 16:00 Session 8 (Presentation) 

Synthesizing fleet strategies with route and growth demands

• What leads in fleet decisioning: aircraft availability, route aspirations or both?

• The challenges of aging freighters and delays in production freighter deliveries, and how that changes route calculations

• Implications of the war and its potential aftermath 

PRESENTER:

• Hamdi Osman, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, SolitAir HoIding

MODERATOR:

• JJ Hornblass, Founder & CEO, Royal Media

16:00 – 16:45 Session 9 (Panel) 

Overcoming limitation of jet fuel and other services when managing routes

• Managing jet fuel shortages
• Strategies for getting ahead of potential scarcity at airport
• Best practices for fast route changes

PANELISTS:

• Sanjeev Gadhia, Founder & CEO, Astral Aviation Ltd

MODERATOR:

• Robert Luke, Senior Associate Editor, Cargo Facts

16:45 Symposium Concludes