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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."

One Air organises massive gas turbine transport to Kazakhstan

Aviation group Air One has helped organise the transport of an industrial gas turbine from the UK's East Midlands Airport to Kazakhstan. The turbine measured almost 3 metres and weighed more than 8.4 tonnes. The outsize shipment began its journey in Aberdeen before being transported to the East Midlands, where it was loaded onto a Boeing 747-400 freighter for its flight to Aktau in southwestern Kazakhstan. Air One partnered with Proactive Logistics Solutions on the project, with the flight operated by One Air, an affiliate airline of Air One. Petr Novozhenov, managing director of Proactive Logistic Solutions FZCO, said: "Moving shipments like this requires the full support of everyone involved, a great deal of expertise, and strong communication. "We chose Air One because of our confidence in their ability and their team truly delivered, especially the flight loadmasters whose thorough preparation turned what could have been a difficult exercise into a smooth flight and on-time delivery." Upon arrival at Aktau International Airport, the final stage of the gas turbine's journey to its destination in Kazakhstan was managed by PLS with the support of its local partner, Aviation & Forwarding Solutions (AFS). Clair Gunn, Air One's commercial operations director, added: "Our fleet of Boeing 777 and 747 freighters gives us a strong advantage for outsize shipments as well as considerable flexibility. Combining this with the knowledge and experience of Air One's in-house team of cargo transportation and loading experts means we can provide a fast response and reliable, secure deliveries of a wide range of out-of-gauge cargo, including those needing a nose-loading aircraft."

CTS: H1 2026 in Numbers

What do the first six months of 2026 tell us about the state of global container shipping? In this episode of The Loadstar Podcast, Charlotte Goldstone is joined by Container Trades Statistics CEO Nigel Pusey and The Loadstar managing editor Gavin van Marle to dig into the numbers behind the biggest stories shaping the market. From an 8.9% surge in Far East exports and continued growth in intra-Asia trade, to tariffs, shifting sourcing strategies and the impact of the Middle East conflict, the trio explore how geopolitics and disruption have reshaped global container flows. They also revisit predictions made earlier this year - including whether the European peak season came early, how long Red Sea diversions would last, and whether carriers would begin returning to Suez - before looking ahead to what could shape the second half of 2026.