b'34American Journal ofTransportation ajot.com(FLIGHTcontinued from page 32) ThetwoarecurrentCEOPeterGuberwhosic air cargo world. Recently it has been strengthen-planeis35,000poundsdependingonpassengerspent30yearswithLufthansaincludingseveraling its cargo operations with the IATA CEIV Pharma luggage loads. years at Lufthansa Cargo as well as at Brussels Air- Certification that was received in November 2024. For global shippers and forwarders, the emphasislinesandCargoDirector ThiloSchaeferwhoisThetransportationofpharmaceuticaland over the last two years, operating a fleet of approxi- responsible for air freight at Condor. healthcareproductsishighlysensitivebynature, mately 60 aircraft - Condor has built an internationalcontendsSchaefer.WearedelightedCondorhas cargo program that feeds its current 90 city networks ellinga irf reight been awarded the CEIV Pharma Certification, dem-including 12 of North Americas largest markets. Schaefer was no stranger to Condor. Like Teck- onstrating our ability to meet critical challenges such Condoroperatesscheduledandoccasionalentrup and Gerber, he also had more than 20 yearsas maintaining cold chain integrity, speed and reliabil-cargo flights and while known for its budget pas- with Lufthansa, which included a senior manage- ity. We are committed to strengthening this segment. senger fares, cargo rates these days are on a par withment post running Lufthansa Cargo stations world- Schaefer believes Condor has become a specialist major global airlines, a Condor official says. wide. When he was approached by Gerber, Schaeferin air freighting delicate commodities such as flow-However, despite its recent growth and reposi- wasrunninghisownindependentaircargocon- ers, fruits and vegetables. We dont export them out tioning, Condor is still a stealth player that is notsultancy and maintained close tiesofGermanybutoutofthestates given to breast-beating. It is a low-key airline that,withkeyinternationalforwarders.on the return flight. We handle, for under current management, has taken bold steps toThe prospect of a new modernizedexample, ferns for flower bouquets.distinguish its brand. fleetandextensiveroutenetwork Forexample,in2022,Condorintroduceditsdrew him to Condor. s witChinga irCraftrebranding and is known for its colorful stripes thatIn an exclusive interview withSwitchingfromolderBoeing make a bold, whimsical, visual statement. In firsttheAmericanJournalofTrans- aircraft to new generation Airbus jets quarter2026,theairlinewillmoveintothenewportation,Schaefersayshewashas given Condor and its forwarder/state-of-the-art Terminal 6 at New Yorks JFK Inter- quickly convinced that Condor wascustomersgreaterefficiencieson national Airport alongside 14 mostly global carrierscommitted to a total evolution ofcertain destinations, insists its cargo like Air Canada, Cathay Pacific, Austrian Airlinesitsexistingcargooperationanddirector.Butwhatsimportantis and SWISS, elevating its visibility. thats what we could also share withthatwenowloadstandardpallets To help shake off its old identity as a low-costforwarders and customers. We said,that do not fit on the former 767s.largelychartercarrier,Condorhasaddedsomehey guys, forget about the CondorCondors Cargo Director Thilo Schaefer Scheduling changes as well as attractivepassengerperksincludingabusinessof the past. Today, we fly primarily to business des- the new product portfolio have made Condor more class cabin with lie-flat, direct-aisle seating, Wi-Fi,tinations, and we fly year-round. attractive to forwarders and shippers, he points out, and full meals ranging from salmon filets, chickenReachingouttoforwardersdidnottriggerIn larger transatlantic gateways like New York, breast filets and exotic pasta dishes. Recently, itsimmediate bookings. The feedback we got fromToronto and Seattle, we have gone from seasonal inflight wines poured topped its better-known carri- forwarders was that they did not even know aboutto year-round service, says Schaefer. Combine ers in a regional competition. Condorbeingaseriousplayerintheairfreightthat with our efforts to work with partner airlines in Withitsfleetmodernizationprogramandanbusiness and they did not even have us on their calllarger hub markets such as Alaska Airlines, JetBlue, expanded route network that began under the leader- list, says Schaefer.They thought of us as a lei- Canadas WestJet or Copa Airlines whichgive us ship of former CEO, Ralf Teckentrup, all the ingre- sure cargo operator only.But soon, my sales teamgreater connectivity and it makes it easier for for-dients were in place to broaden Condors focus onand I received calls noticing that we have changed,warders to book and block with confidence, he adds. freightastrategyessentiallychampionedbytwothat we are a different animal, so lets talk aboutSoon, Schaefer was pinpointing cargo opportuni-former senior Lufthansa executives, who also hadsome cooperation. ties with Condors passenger flights, particularly extensive air freight experience during their tenureSince then, Condor has transformed itself into anon transatlantic routes from Germany and Europe with the giant German airline. active member in the high revenue, high value clas- (FLIGHTcontinued on page 40)'