08:00 – 09:00 Networking Breakfast

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09:00 – 09:15 Opening remarks by the conference chairman

09:15 – 10:15 Session 1: 30th Anniversary Review: Freighters & the future of air logistics

PANEL 

• Evolution of freighter aircraft over the decades, examining key milestones and operational advancements 
• Analysis of the current state of the freighter market, focusing on the demand for freighters, and the impact of e-commerce on air logistics 
• Future developments, projections and strategic directions for the freighter industry in the next 30 years!  

PANELISTS:

• Andres Bianchi, CEO, LATAM Cargo
• Joe Mozzali, CEO, Amerijet
• Salih Kamil Salihoğlu, SVP – Americas, Turkish Airlines
• Tom Sanderson, Senior Director – Vertical Capability, Boeing Global Services
• Tyler-Blair Sheppard, Director – GE9X Marketing, GE Aerospace

MODERATOR:

• Guillermo Ochovo, Director, Cargo Facts Consulting

Sponsored By:

10:15 – 10:45 Session 2: Fireside chat with Atlas Air’s Michael Steen

During this fireside chat, we sit down for a frank, one-on-one conversations with Michael Steen, CEO of Atlas Air Worldwide, on the future of their company and the industry.

MODERATOR:

• Jeff Lee, Editor, Cargo Facts

10:45 – 11:15 Morning Break

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11:15 – 11:45 Session 3: Large-widebody freighters: Matching supply with demand

PRESENTATION

• 747 freighters still a hot commodity 
• Fleet renewal in full swing 
• Is there enough large-widebody capacity to support growing demand? 

PRESENTER:

• Eshel Heffetz, Founder & CEO, Challenge Airlines

MODERATOR:

• Guillermo Ochovo, Director, Cargo Facts Consulting

11:45 – 12:30 Session 4: Shifting market share in the medium-widebody and narrowbody segments

PANEL

• What does the slowdown in 767 conversions mean for the long-term freighter fleet? 
• To what degree will Boeing’s production extension of the 767F to 2033 change the calculus whether to pursue medium–widebody conversions? 
• Challenges to securing A330 feedstock for conversions 

PANELISTS:

• Diogo Elias, SVP, Avianca Cargo
• Ryan Goepel, President & CFO, Global Crossing Airlines
• Rafi Matalon, VP & GM Marketing, IAI Aviation Group
• Mark Neely, Vice President, Freighter, Embraer Commercial Aviation

MODERATOR:

• Jeff Lee, Editor, Cargo Facts

12:30 – 13:55 Lunch & Spotlight Presentation by Diamond Sponsor EFW

PRESENTER:

• Wolfgang Schmid, Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing, EFW

MODERATOR:

• Jim Edgar, Senior Consultant, Cargo Facts Consulting

Sponsored By:

14:00 – 14:30 Session 5: Fireside chat with UPS Airlines’ Bill Moore

During this fireside chat, we sit down for a frank, one-on-one conversations with Bill Moore, President of UPS Airlines, on the future of their company and the industry.

MODERATOR:

• Guillermo Ochovo, Director, Cargo Facts Consulting

Sponsored By:

14:30 – 15:10 Session 6: Balancing engine and freighter leasing demand

PANEL

• Maximizing green time on existing engine types 
• Managing the oversupply of narrowbody freighters  
• Feedstock inventory strategies for new freighters  

PANELISTS:

• Dora Alexander, Executive Vice President, Hamden Aviation
• Les Cronin, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, MTU AENA
• David Ellis, SVP & Global Head of Asset Transaction Group, GA Telesis
• Nuno Leal, Chief Marketing Officer, World Star Aviation

MODERATOR:

• Mylene Scholnick, Senior Manager, Head of WW Fleet & Carriers (GFC), Amazon Global Air

15:10 – 15:40 Session 7: Challenges of integration into national airspace

PRESENTATION 

• Progress of FAA standardizing certification for operational use 
• Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) and its challenges 
• Current investor interest — or lack thereof — in funding AAM programs

PRESENTER:

• Patrick Buckles, CRO & Commercial Lead, Beta Technologies

MODERATOR:

• Yael Katzwer, Deputy Editor, Cargo Facts

15:40 – 16:10 Afternoon Break

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16:10 – 17:00 Session 8: State of the freighter conversion market: Too many or too few conversions and conversion capacity? 

OXFORD DEBATE

Two teams will face off in an Oxford-style debate on the future of the conversion market. Topics of discussion will include: 

• Are there too many conversion programs? In which freighter categories? 
• Are there too many conversion orders?  
• Is the future of conversions in jeopardy with overcapacity and investment losses? 
• Is current feedstock inhibiting or permitting conversions? 

PANELISTS:

• Eamonn Forbes, SVP & Chief Commercial Officer, Titan Aviation Leasing
• Crawford Hamilton, Head of Freighter Marketing, Airbus
• Michael McConnell, CEO, C Cubed Aerospace
• Betsy Seaton, President & CEO, Saltchuk Aviation

MODERATOR:

• JJ Hornblass, Founder & CEO, Royal Media

18:00

Since 1994, Cargo Facts Consulting (CFC) and Cargo Facts have jointly produced the annual Cargo Facts Symposium, a premier event in the cargo aircraft industry. We will celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Cargo Facts Symposium by hosting a gala dinner that will feature entertainment, highlights from the past 30 years, and great networking opportunities.  Click here to learn more.

Presenting Sponsor

08:00 – 09:00 Networking Breakfast

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09:00 – 10:00 Session 9: Appraisers’ view of freighters and feedstock

PANEL 

• Lease rate changes and influences 
• Market conditions and asset values in a low-growth airfreight market 
• Outlook on feedstock prices across freighter types 

PANELISTS:

• George Dimitroff, Head of Valuations, Cirium Ascend
• Alice Gondry, Director, Aviation Research – ISTAT Certified Senior Appraiser, MUFG Bank
• Anna Kopinski, Director of Asset Valuations, mba Aviation

MODERATOR:

• Guillermo Ochovo, Director, Cargo Facts Consulting

10:00 – 10:30 Session 10: Fireside chat with ATSG’s Mike Berger

During this fireside chat, we sit down for a frank, one-on-one conversations with Mike Berger, CEO of ATSG, on the future of their company and the industry.  

MODERATOR:

• Jeff Lee, Editor, Cargo Facts

10:30 – 11:00 Morning Break

11:00 – 11:30 Session 11: Global trade dynamics: Adjusting strategies for shifting economic tides

PRESENTATION

• How global economic changes are altering the air freight industry 
• The latest on trade wars, tariffs, and shifting economic alliances 
• Strategies to navigate and leverage changes in global trade for optimal freight operations 

PRESENTER:

• Edvinas Demenius, CEO & Chairman of the Board, SmartLynx Airlines

MODERATOR:

• Robert Luke, Senior Associate Editor, Cargo Facts

11:30 – 12:15 Session 12: Strategic MRO partnerships: Selecting, integrating, and optimizing for operational excellence

PANEL 

• Critical steps for selecting the right MRO partner 
• Assessing essential criteria such as technical expertise, cost efficiency, quality assurance, and logistical considerations 
• Effective strategies for integrating MRO services with existing fleet management and data systems 

PANELISTS:

• Mike Andrews, Director of Cargo Conversions & Sales, PEMCO
• Scott Butler, Chief Commercial Officer, Ascent Aviation Services
• Carlos Cock, CEO, Xtreme Aviation
• David Williams, Airline Sales Director, Standard Aero

MODERATOR:

• Robert Luke, Senior Associate Editor, Cargo Facts

12:15 Lunch & Spotlight Presentation by Diamond Sponsor Boeing

PRESENTER:

• Aaron Tayler, Regional Director, Market Analysis – Air Cargo, Boeing Commercial Airplanes

MODERATOR:

• Jim Edgar, Senior Consultant, Cargo Facts Consulting

Sponsored By:

13:30 Conclusion