SUPPLEMENT


AERION SET FOR BREAKTHROUGH 2026 AS INTEGRATED MODEL ACCELERATES DEMAND


AIRLINES WON’T BUILD EVERYTHING IN-HOUSE ANYMORE. THAT IS THE PREDICTION OF ADRIEN THOMINET - CHAIRMAN - AERION


Do you think 2026 will be better or worse than 2025 for your company? What reasons do you have? 2026 will be stronger, undoubtedly. We launched AERION only a few months ago and the market response has been immediate. Airlines are coming to us because they finally see a model that breaks the fragmentation holding cargo back. Our ecosystem,


including


ECS Group, Global GSA Group, CargoTech, TCE and more, creates commercial strength, digital acceleration and operational control under a single, unified approach. Demand is rising fast, especially in high-growth verticals like pharma, parcels, and e-commerce. And airlines are actively looking for integrated commercial-digital– operational partners. That’s exactly where AERION stands apart. With the synergies across our group already delivering measurable performance, 2026 is set to be a breakthrough year.


How do you see the next five years in your sector? The next five years will mark a complete shift in how airlines and partners work together. The old transactional GSSA model will give way


to strategic, data-driven orchestration,


speed. Operational pressure, from congestion to talent shortages, will continue, pushing greater reliance on automation, predictive tools, and controlled digital governance. But the opportunities are just as strong: digitalisation is finally delivering real operational value such as automation, real-time visibility, AI forecasting. And the rise of specialised products like pharma and parcels demands new levels of compliance, traceability, and dedicated know-how.


real collaboration


aligned with revenue, operations, and customer expectations. Digitalisation, automation, and AI will run end-to-end through the cargo chain, transforming revenue management, decision cycles and operational discipline. At the same time, specialised logistics such as pharma, parcels, compliant and sustainable flows will become major growth engines. Airlines won’t build everything in- house anymore. They’ll choose modular, scalable solutions that deliver immediate impact without heavy internal investment. AERION was built precisely for this new landscape.


Which macroeconomic or geopolitical factors (e.g., inflation, regional conflicts, trade policy shifts) are likely to impact air cargo volumes or rates from next month in your opinion? The biggest pressure points remain geopolitical instability, creating reroutings, last-minute capacity shifts, and ongoing volatility. Add to this the growing regulatory burden: EU ETS costs, customs digitalisation, and compliance requirements are reshaping rate structures and airline cost bases. Consumer demand in e-commerce will continue to drive peak/off-peak swings, especially on Asian and transcontinental flows. And carriers will keep adjusting fleets and networks in response to fuel price fluctuations and shifting regional demand signals. It is a complex puzzle, but one that rewards the players who can react quickly and intelligently.


What operational challenges (e.g., congestion, labour shortages, (e.g.,


digitalisation,


regulatory changes) and opportunities new routes,


sustainability


initiatives) do you think air cargo operators should prepare for over the coming year? The industry will have to become far more agile to withstand the turbulence ahead. Capacity shifts driven by geopolitical or economic disruptions will intensify, and airlines will need partners who can react instantly when networks pivot overnight. That’s exactly where we see a major opportunity: our global sales network is built to absorb these changes and redeploy commercial power at


In your opinion, which major trade lanes (e.g., Asia– Europe, Trans-Pacific, Intra-Asia) are expected to experience the strongest and weakest growth in air cargo volumes? The shift is already visible. Trans-Pacific e-commerce flows are softening, while China and broader Asia-to-Europe lanes continue gaining momentum as consumer demand rebounds and digital retail expands. In parallel, we’re seeing the emergence of entirely new markets driven by structural shifts in sourcing and distribution patterns. Intra-Asia remains one of the most dynamic regions, fueled by cross-border e-commerce, while Canada–Europe/US/Central


America flows are


also strengthening as widebody supply improves. Weakness will concentrate on lanes exposed to geopolitical rerouting, cost inflation, or regulatory friction. In short: the map is shifting fast, and success will depend on anticipating where demand migrates rather than relying on historic patterns.


Will you still be in airfreight in 2031? What keeps you going? Or if you are going to leave, what will drive you out? Absolutely, we’re building the next generation of this industry. What keeps us here is the transformation underway: air cargo is shifting from reactive crisis management investing


in future through next-generation


initiatives and through Aerion’s integrated model, which unites commercial,


digital, and operational


intelligence in one ecosystem. Seeing young talent join, innovate, and challenge the status quo is a powerful driver. The only thing that could push someone out of this sector is


stagnation


but air cargo is


entering


its most i n n o v a t i v e decade


yet.


That’s exactly why


we’re


staying, and why AERION exists.


“Seeing young talent


join, innovate, and challenge the status quo is a powerful driver.”


to proactive, high-value orchestration. We’re the


talent


15


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