A tough job at AF-KLM Cargo for Marcel de Nooijer

We don’t like to gloat, but The Loadstar tipped as long ago as January 2015 that Marcel de Nooijer could take the top spot at Air France-KLM Cargo.

And so he has. Perhaps what is interesting is that he replaces Bram Graeber, who left the carrier in June – which begs the question: who has been running it since then? Well, apparently, it was split between Mr de Nooijer and Alain Malka – who this month went off to be assistant general manager of Hop!.

Mr de Nooijer, who was managing director of Martinair and executive vice president at KLM Cargo, will also join the group’s executive committee.

He could have a tough job ahead of him. On the one hand, AF-KLM Cargo is retreating from most of its freighters, trying to consolidate its position in the air cargo market and not lose more market share. It must also be profitable, an aim which has been rather elusive. On the other hand, the carrier has good products and a hugely experienced and knowledgeable team in Amsterdam, who would be wasted at a belly carrier. And then there is the old mistrust between Amsterdam and Paris to manage. The carrier is at a difficult stage of its life, and the fairly high turnover of management might appear to reflect that. But he has managed Martinair, which must have been a challenging job.

And Mr de Nooijer seems game.

“Together with my colleagues in Paris and Amsterdam, I aim to improve the quality of our service, gain access to new cargo markets and proceed with the digitisation of key processes,” he said in a statement. “During the coming weeks, we will seek ways to ensure that my existing duties at Martinair Holland and KLM Cargo are fulfilled.”

A source at the carrier added that both staff and customers were happy with the choice “as he is a cargo guy, and has held joint functions before” across the two airlines. The source added that Mr de Nooijer would have to spent more time on the Air France side than he has had to before, in what will need to be a good balancing act.

Jean-Marc Janaillac, CEO of Air France-KLM, said: “The experience and professionalism demonstrated by Marcel de Nooijer at KLM Cargo will from now on be used to benefit the entire group.”