Neutral Air Partner appoints Sam Okpro to head Global Airline Partner Program

September 03, 2020: Neutral Air Partner launched its Global Airline Partner Program and has appointed Sam Okpro to lead the programme. He comes with extensive experience in the air cargo logistics and aviation sector, having held senior management roles in leading airlines, including Air Canada, BWIA, Gulf Air, Etihad Airways, Air Seychelles, and IATA.

Christos Spyrou, CEO of NAP said, “We are proud that an experienced and well reputed person like Sam is joining our team. Sam brings his rich airline experience and a strong track record in achieving substantial growth to the table.”

Covid-19 pandemic has caused disruptions to global supply chain due to airfreight capacity shortage arising from global lockdowns and passenger flights suspensions, As a result, forwarders and consolidators had to rethink promptly their entire supply chain products and services, while airlines need to properly plan their capacity, and diversify their global customer base, by including smaller but dynamic cargo sales agents into the game. SME forwarders and consolidators represent over 45 percent of the global air freight business volumes, and it is now a great opportunity for carriers to attract new global clients.

Our collaboration with participating airlines will enable NAP partners to enhance their airfreight products on a global scale, and the carriers will benefit by our global support, tonnage commitment, and flexible approach in creating opportunities amidst the new normal in the air cargo industry, he added.

Sam Okpro, head of NAP airline relationships added, “The airline industry has been struggling with a full reopening and getting passenger aircraft back in the air given the current challenges. Air cargo is playing a vital role in contributing to the operating financial targets of flights in the air and we need to start looking at and preparing for the post -Covid-19 period.”

The survival of the air cargo industry will depend on the successful resurrection of passenger aircraft that are parked in various locations around the world taking up to the air in the future as circa 80 percent of international cargo is carried in the belly of passenger flights.

“The programme includes various partnership options from preferred carrier status, marketing, PR & communications collaboration, global or regional BSA/CPA agreements, charter deals, special cargoes, as well as targets and volume incentives on a regional or global scale. Our NAP Partners can play a significant contributing role assisting airlines to fill the belly capacity of passenger aircraft as they get back to the air. We are already discussing with selected carriers on each region, and we are planning to approach others to further strengthen our strategic airline network,” Okpro said.