A heated debate about the air cargo industry's maturity in a Las Vegas hotel bar may have ended inconclusively, but the question resurfaced with Jan Krems' appointment as United Cargo's new leader — signaling a transformative moment for global logistics.
The 54-year-old executive's career trajectory reads like a global aviation map: from Amsterdam to Manchester, Madrid, Dubai, Singapore, Paris, and finally Chicago and Atlanta, spanning 25 years in the industry. Yet Krems' path to aviation was anything but predetermined.
An Unlikely Path to Aviation
After earning an economics degree from Utrecht University and working with UN peacekeeping forces in Lebanon, Krems returned home to complete a marketing postgraduate degree. His entry into aviation came through a suggestion from his mother, leading to a management trainee position at KLM.
"Most sales and marketing applicants in aviation gravitate toward passenger business," Krems noted. "But my background in the steel industry drew me to cargo — a decision I've never regretted."
Educating Shippers in a Competitive Market
With nearly 70 years of post-war air cargo history behind it, Krems believes the industry must better educate shippers about air freight's economic advantages over other transport modes. "The handling and transportation process requires particular education to help shippers understand air cargo's value proposition," he emphasized.
This need for education has become more pressing as air freight faces stiff competition from ocean shipping. Seabury Group data reveals that since the early 2000s, air cargo volume grew just 2.6% compared to ocean shipping's 7.4% growth. Air's share of container weight plummeted from 3.1% to 1.7%, with Asia trade lanes particularly affected — representing annual losses of 400,000 metric tons.
"During economic slowdowns, air cargo often retreats from process improvements and technological development," Krems observed. "Meanwhile, other transport modes use these periods to advance, becoming stronger competitors."
Cultural Integration and Industry Transformation
Krems faced significant cultural integration challenges during KLM's merger with Air France, an experience that prepared him for his current role at United Cargo. "Bringing two companies' employees together into one culture depends on daily interactions and gradual adjustment," he reflected.
Now leading United's cargo organization, Krems finds more similarities than differences between the companies. Within months of his appointment, he began applying his international experience to integrate cargo processes and technologies, forging new client partnerships.
Under this new leadership, the air cargo industry appears poised for transformation. With his global perspective and emphasis on innovation, Jan Krems represents both the industry's growing maturity and its path forward in an increasingly competitive logistics landscape.