The following summary of AirCargo 2014 is graciously provided by Brandon Fried, Executive Director of the Airforwarders Association. Brandon is slated to be our October, 2014, luncheon speaker, and we welcome the leadership that he and AfA play for the air cargo community.
Over seven hundred industry professionals descended upon Orlando at the Marriott World Center for AirCargo 2014. The event has been called "The conference for the rest of us" as it features four major industry associations including the Airforwarders Association, the Express Delivery & Logistics Association, the Air & Expedited Motor Carrier Association and Airports Council-NA. These groups represent the backbone of key logistics providers: forwarders, truckers, air couriers and airport cargo managers. The conference theme was "Closing the Deal" and featured programming focused on increasing margins in the freight transportation industry.
The event began with a women's networking event sponsored by Delta Airlines, and a keynote presentation from former American Airlines president Bill Boesch who provided a glimpse of air cargo's past and his predictions of the future. Boesch's presentation received a standing ovation after lots of questions and answers. The event continued with panels on e-freight, cold chain management, sales prospecting, avoiding cargo theft, international airport cargo operations and a TSA government relations update. The sold out exhibit hall featured 110 booths with all kinds of industry vendors and culminated with a fantastic final gala at the Fantasy of Flight Museum outside Orlando.