Is There Life After Air Cargo?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is There Life After Air Cargo? Happy New Year 2026 Many 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 man 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 all the way, continuing just a few days short 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, when for two and a half decades was “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. By 2014 when he packed it in, dnata Cargo represented a “standard of the world. That was a time when what was exciting and new in our business seemed to have migrated to the busy global hub of Dubai. But JD had a plan including, a place, and the persona to pivot as an hotelier, opening a small bed & breakfast in the Philippines. Here, he explains: “It was my turn to take leave and say farewell to bustling Dubai. “ I had planned for many years, and looked forward to experiencing another life. “I handed over the reign of the dnata Cargo division and on June 27, 2014 and with my wife and daughter, we departed Dubai to take up full time residence at our home located in Maylaka- Biliran Province, Philippines, the country where the country where my dear wife Gina was born.” “We moved into a totally new direction (no consultancy role for me), away from air cargo—to something more manageable, less political, and far less complicated. ""We opened a small boutique hotel on a hill at the beach, overlooking the sea. "My retirement in 2014 was a new challenge, and together with my family we went right to it. “I had loved sharing with the industry my life in Dubai , working with a special group through good and—no hiding— sometimes challenging moments and difficult times. “So as we closed the book on my total of a 44-year career, all told from humble beginnings at Pan Am Clipper Cargo in Brussels to mighty dnata Cargo Dubai, it was farewell and happy landings to all…” JD DePauw began his air cargo career at dnata (Dubai National Air Travel Agency) 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 during his time at DXB 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 as 2026 begins he unpacks some thoughts now more than a decade away from air cargo. JD in 2026 can be viewed post career as a good example that being objective, hardworking, and truthful really pays off. Asked to elaborate on ideas that stand out in 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 JD 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,"he declared,"… 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 to think about. “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 .“ CALOGI 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 (http://calogi.com),”JD DePauw smiled. Today at home JD says simply that he” enjoys the quiet life of a retiree”. “We built our home here in 2014/2015,”JD said . “We did not continue 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 (example a recent extended adventure around Japan). “The rest of the year here in Maylaka in Biliran Province, 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. ‘We gather friends & neighbors and local children and others to celebrate our annual Christmas party with lots of good food,music snd goodies bag giveaway which is always well attended. “Arriving at 78 years of age 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 years with dnata life was never boring and I always knew despite the ups and downs of our indusry, dnata as a company had expansive thinking bosses that encouragedall of us to you use our entrepreneurial skills to the fullest. At a critical time we were encouraged and supported 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.” “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", JD De Pauw concluded. You meet again with somebody like JD and the whisper of the word can help you soar with your soul. Best wishes and keep on keeping on dear friend. (Geoffrey)