air cargo Europe is the big one

If we’re talking sustainability, the timing of this year’s major cargo conferences with three of them taking place within the space of 7 weeks in three different spots across the world, doesn’t exactly make it to top of the list when it comes to BurnOut Prevention measures for the top management levels attending. On the other hand, nothing beats human connection when it comes to sustainable (business) relationships.

Flanked on each side by the World Cargo Symposium (WCS) held in Istanbul at the end of APR23 and the CNS over in Miami at the start of JUN23, the air cargo Europe/transport logistic running from 09-12MAY23, stands out as the colossal giant in the middle.

The most international it’s ever been
Robert Schönberger, Head of transport logistic, air cargo & ceramitec exhibitions at messe muenchen, tells me that more than 2,300 exhibitors have reserved their booth space in the ten halls (the first time that that many halls are involved) which together cover an area of over 127,000 m² - 14,000 m² of which are dedicated to air cargo Europe (ACE). While the number of exhibitors is similar to the last onsite event, pre-covid, in 2019, the number of countries has increased from 63 to 67, making it the most international of all the transport logistics/air cargo Europes to date. When the first one began in 2003, it was predominantly German. Even by 2017, the German/International split was still 50/50. Now, 60% of the exhibiting companies are European/International, 40% German. A fact that may well attract more than the 64,000 visitors from 2019, too, and break another record.

Key topics may be a repeat
That said, there is a strong line-up of German CEOs and VIPs listed as speakers. The official opening speech will be held by Federal Minister, Dr. Volker Wissing on the Tuesday at 11:00. Other speakers and panelists participating in the more than 50 timeslots, are international names who were also involved in the World Cargo Symposium. The key focus points remain very similar to the WCS, with sustainability, digitalization, and ecommerce, being joined by innovation, supply chain, and resilience. Safety and security do not appear to figure, while, looking at the exhibitor schedule, there will be no shortage of cocktail and food opportunities at many of the stands. Interestingly, attracting talent, which is a major challenge for our industry, and the discussions on women in logistics, are placed on the last day, Friday 12MAY23; a day when people are usually drifting off home again. The differences to the WCS are that the WCS audience tends to be mainly high-level management on account of the expensive tickets, whilst the panel discussions at the air cargo Europe are open to a much wider audience and cover all modes of transport.

Saving the best for ACE
As can be expected at such a huge event and judging by the never-ending influx of press invitations and interview requests coming in to the CFG mailbox – many very last-minute, it has to be said, the air cargo Europe promises to be a hotbed of company announcements. The lack of similar invitations prior to the WCS, and having then talked informally to a number of the companies present at the World Cargo Symposium, it was confirmed more than once, that news would be made public at the ACE, plus that some companies had opted to only have a booth at the air cargo Europe, since there were only two weeks between it and the WCS – the organization of two booths in such short succession was not only expensive, but also very stressful. Good therefore, that next year’s WCS will take place earlier in the year, again.

CargoForwarder Global is looking forward to hearing the industry’s news at the air cargo Europe, and will be represented in Munich by Heiner Siegmund.

Brigitte Gledhill

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