How Miami Landed Its First Asian Scheduled Carrier

Once upon a time in 1994 I found myself in Taipei, Taiwan sitting at lunch with Peter Yap, who was the top cargo executive for China Airlines Cargo.

At one point, Peter looked at me and said:

“The trouble today is finding markets that offer great growth potential and also support from the local gateway.

“Very rare,” Peter said.

“Taiwanese people love to eat fish and we cannot get enough of it, competing with Europe and elsewhere.”

I looked at Peter, who was eager to do business, and thought about Miami.

Our company had personally served and followed the gateway since 1975 with distribution of our Air Cargo News publication. We delivered ACN to the cargo area at Miami, back when it was located in the part of the airport that served the U.S. Army during World War II.

The place was called Miami International Air Depot, or MIAD.

I also thought about the two detailed history books we created about the airport after Amaury Zuriarrain brought us in to meet General Manager Richard Judy.

Legendary Dick Judy green lit the first book and later an all-cargo book about MIA Cargo created for Miami Aviation Director Gary Dellapa.

I looked at Peter and said:

“Peter, come to Miami, bring a freighter into South Florida where all the fish you need will swim right into the airplane, and you will make history.”

Celebrating Michael Chowdry, one of the most successful people in the history of air cargo founded Atlas Air Worldwide 30 years ago.

The Pakistani native began flying in 1993 with one 747 freighter.

Today Atlas is the largest ACMI operator on the planet.

It's been 21 years since that sad day on January 24, 2001 when Mike, who was only 46, died whilst piloting his jet in Watkins, Colorado with Jeff Cole, a reporter on board.

Election Day Strange Choice For TIACA Opening

The International Air Cargo Association TIACA Air Cargo Forum (ACF) begins on November 8 Election Day across the U.S., which means to attend the first day of TIACA, unless you can figure out how to get to an absentee voting center, how will you be in two places at the same time a week from this Tuesday?

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