Is There Life After Air Cargo

Happy New Year 2026

   All of us have a vision of what life without air cargo might be.

Well, maybe not all of us.

   Richard Malkin, FlyingTypers’ Senior Contributing Editor, when he turned 101 in 2014  once told me: “[I’m] glad I came out of retirement at 100 to write air cargo history to share with future generations," as the men who invented air cargo journalism covering the Berlin Airlift in 1948 readied a return to conducting interviews with industry leaders in 2014..

   “Actually,” Richard said, “I think writing is lengthening my life.”

   I kissed him when he said that.

Richard Malkin lived until 2017 and he was still writing about air cargo al the way lasting just a few days shory of eighty years covering air cargo.

   Unfortunately, retirement plans abound elsewhere (albeit outside of our circle).

   Our friend Jean Pierre (JD) De Pauw was a well-known and much-respected genius of the air cargo handling form, and for the past two and a half decades has been “Mr. Air Cargo,” serving as Divisional Senior Vice President at dnata Cargo Dubai.

   JD  shepherded dnata Cargo from a “hump and run” air cargo handler to a big league visionary operation; in 2014 dnata Cargo represents the “standard of the world” and is still growing.

   Along the way, what is new and different has migrated from almost everywhere else on earth to the busy global hub of Dubai.

   One tends to worry when a hard driving guy like JD puts down the sword and says he is going home.

   But JD has a plan, a place, and a persona: as an hotelier, opening a small bed & breakfast in the Philippines.

   Here, he explains:

   “It was my turn to take my leave from bustling Dubai.

   “A leave I  planned for many years, and looked forward to experiencing

   “I handed over the reign of the dnata Cargo division and on June 27, with my family, we departed Dubai to take up residence in our home in Philippines.

   “It was a great pleasure and privilege to have known all the great people and spend many hours together discussing the industry, which is so dear to all of us…

   “I moved into a totally new direction (no consultancy role for me), away from air cargo—something more manageable, less political, and far less complicated, a small boutique hotel on a hill at the beach, overlooking the sea… my retirement was a new challenge, one I worked on together with my family.

   “I loved sharing with the industry my life in Dubai for 23 years, working with a special group through good and—no hiding— sometimes challenging moments and difficult times.

   “So as we closed the book on my 44-year career,  all told from a humble beginning at Pan Am Cargo Brussels to mighty dnata Cargo Dubai it was farewell and happy landings to all…”

As we experience January take- off into the wild blue future of air cargo  for another year after a break in the daily routine for some days with family, loved ones and friends  it occurs to us in this ever -aging population that more than one conversation or perhaps some fleeting thoughts  whilst at home  included pondering what’s next in our future?

For those of us who have reached decades of service the thought creeps in silently like the evening tide:

“Is there life after air cargo?’

Take the case of the aforementioned  JD DePauw who began his air cargo career at dnata (Dubai National Air Travel Agency) for the air cargo supply chain, taking off in Dubai in 1991 as dnata General Manager Cargo Operations at the Main (and only) Cargo Terminal located in the just opened Dubai Cargo Village.

To say JD had a rocket by the tail is no understatement.

Because of the opportunity offered and his absolute brilliance to the task, a year later he became “Senior General Manager Cargo Operations, that later changed into “Senior Vice President Cargo”, and finally JD rose to “Divisional Senior Vice President Cargo” at dnata.

Here in the spirit of celebrating his two decades plus year record of achievement at laying the foundation of building dnata logistics with a great team and sympathetic management through great dedication and hard work into an innovator and powerhouse during his years from 30 September 1991, we spend a few minutes celebrating a great career and then moving on to his life after JD retired.

Here we will briefly share how a very high- powered industry executive built a colossus and then packed it in and said goodbye.

Today in 2026 JD is living proof that in retirement reaching paradise is possible ,and for some there is indeed life after air cargo

Louis JeanPierre DePauw jdepauw3@yahoo.com smiles here  pictured

with his wife Gina and daughter Joanne at home in the Philippines.

JD (as everybody called him) as far as I can tell is still the same as before; a brilliant light once among us that never looked for the limelight, even when we first met him, or today as he unpacks some thoughts for us a decade away from air cargo.

Understanding what JD brought to the table that benefitted air cargo from his example is critical to really understanding what it takes to win in air cargo.

What was it about Louis JeanPierre DePauw?

We recall observing that the dnata Cargo, team was neatly tied up and developed by Jean Pierre De Pauw,  when we knew him as DSVP Cargo.

He was for more than two decades during the critical formative years in Dubai Cargo, a great strategist and visionary; a people person with an excellent eye for detail.

     JD in 2026 can be viewed post career as a good example that being objective, hardworking, and truthful really pays off.

Maybe best of all is realization for someone seeking a lifetime career in logistics that JDs love for the business and performance leaves little doubt that with dedication to hard work, and love for family and colleagues, plus a little bit of blooming luck- indeed there is a life after air cargo. 

Today JD says simply that he” enjoys the quiete(r) life of a retiree”.

 “We have built our home here in Philippines 2014/2015,”JD said .

“We did not go through with our commercial ambitions (doing business in Philippines was a lot more complex than what JD had imagined).

“Our place is now where we regularly entertain family and friends.

 “Travel every year to Belgium (my home country) for a couple of months.

“On the way back we usually make a stop for about one week in Dubai (my former residence for 20+ years) and meet up there with a few friends and former colleagues.

And every year we also try to make at least one cruise (last cruise was 3 weeks around Japan with Diamond Princess).

“The rest of the year we are at home, here in our Maylaka in Biliran Province, where we enjoy regular walks in our big garden, along the beach, with our dogs, watching the incredible sunsets here, JD smiled.

“Gina also has an extensive orchid collection which keeps her busy.

“Life is very a regular routine, that is a lot less stressful than the life we were used to in Dubai,” JD said.

Here are some few pictures that also include some of the various parties we hold and the annual Christmas goodies bag giveaway event which is always well attended.  

“Hitting 78 this year, my brain still feels young, but the body is not always in agreement anymore.

“All in all we can't complain life is good,” JD assures adding:

“In my 20 years with dnata life was never boring and I am confident it will not happen because, although we had our ups and downs, the great thing about dnata is having bosses whom let you use your entrepreneurial skills to the fullest, whom supported you in your endeavors to expand and diversify, which in our case, often led us in to totally uncharted territories.”

“Would be remiss not to extend sincere thanks to my great good friend and the man that launched Emirates Airline the late great Sir Maurice Flanagan who alongside Gary Chapman and Ismail Ali Albanna believed in me.

“Equally a big thank you and tip of the hat to, the dnata Cargo Management Team for having supported the sometimes crazy ideas we came up with.”

Asked to elaborate on ideas that stand out in JDs memory he speaks of two initiatives from a long list of firsts brought on during his time at dnata Cargo for both the Middle East and also the world.

Of course there were awards by nearly all the associations and publications but as time went on JP emerged as a true innovator in Dubai and pioneer of the way to do business and handle cargo that continues today in greater and lesser degree and should not be forgot.

“While I cherish all of our accomplishments… the list is very long… (and also not afraid of talking about our failures), overall, we had little opportunity to get bored…. what a ride is was and still is… but if I have to choose, two projects stand out by their uniqueness and complexity (neither of them had ever been tried before anywhere else in our industry)”:

“No doubt, the introduction of CAMIS back in 1993” (after a lot of hard work conceptualizing and designing), “finally gave us clarity on quality and process efficiency that helped tremendously in improving the level of service quality to the customer.

“CAMIS also gave us the tools to address the cost efficiency of delivering great service.”

CALOGI, an acronym for Cargo Logistics International, comprehensive, integrated, and cost-effective trading platform was developed for the air cargo supply chain,to facilitate online business and a paperless environment. “CALOGI  was no doubt  the most exciting, challenging, complex, demanding of them all .

“ CLOGI that continues today was still partly unfinished though very successful in Dubai where a market share touched the 70% when I retired.

“It was thrilling to be developing and rolling out a concept never tried before, creating the equivalent of a passenger GDS (Global Distribution System) for the Cargo Industry worldwide (www.calogi.com),”JD DePauw smiled.

You meet again with somebody like JD and the whisper of the word can make you soar with your soul.

Best wishes and keep on keeping on dear friend.

(Geoffrey)