AERION: Bringing the whole air cargo business together

AERION brings together ECS Group, Global GSA Group, TCE, CargoTech, Mail and More, HealthC’Air and Squair under one commercial platform, aiming to help airlines maximise cargo revenue through sales expertise, operational support, technology and specialist services. The group combines airline representation and sales with total cargo management, digital procurement and revenue optimisation, pharma and temperature-sensitive logistics, postal and ecommerce expertise, back-office processing, charter operations and marketing. This allows airlines to access specialist capabilities without building extensive in-house or overseas infrastructure. AERION’s proposition is to give airlines a single relationship covering different cargo requirements, from entering new markets and developing specialist products to managing operations and improving commercial decisions. The group currently manages complete cargo activities for more than 10 airlines. An aircraft’s cargo hold may be below the passenger cabin, but its commercial potential deserves attention at the top table. Turning that space into dependable revenue takes sales talent, operational discipline, digital intelligence and specialist knowledge. AERION brings these capabilities together, giving airlines a single commercial gateway to a group built around making cargo work harder. Adrien Thominet, Chairman of the holding company behind ECS Group, Global GSA Group, TCE, CargoTech, Mail and More and HealthC’Air and Founder of AERION sees the brand as the expression of a strategy developed over several years. Thominet said: “Air cargo is evolving, and airlines need partners who can support every part of their growth. Airlines need more than cargo sales. They need partners who understand how commercial decisions, operational discipline and digital intelligence work together to produce sustainable returns. “The next phase of air cargo growth will reward businesses that connect expertise across markets, anticipate customer needs and turn reliable data into decisive action. AERION brings that thinking together. Our role is to help airlines build stronger cargo businesses with the specialist skills, technology and commercial reach growth demands.” That ambition starts with understanding how the constituent businesses complement one another. Each addresses a different challenge; together, they connect the commercial promise with the practical work required to deliver it. Thominet said: “For several years, our group has had one clear goal: to become a fully integrated commercial partner for airlines, with services that cover the whole cargo value chain.” ECS Group provides the historical foundation. Its general sales and service agency expertise connects airline capacity with freight forwarder demand, combining local market relationships with international reach. Its network has grown through acquisitions and market development, bringing established businesses and their customer knowledge into a broader organisation. For airlines, that means access to commercial expertise without building an extensive overseas sales infrastructure themselves. Global GSA Group brings another substantial layer of airline representation. Founded in Amsterdam in 1995, it combines local commercial relationships with centrally coordinated support. Its teams bring dedicated expertise in specialist cargo segments including live animals, healthcare, e-commerce and express, and perishables. Its services extend beyond sales into marketing, administration, operations and the management of ground handling and road feeder suppliers. Crucially, its approach preserves each airline’s identity while supplying the expertise needed to develop business across markets. For airlines seeking broader outsourcing, TCE plays a central role in the group’s Total Cargo Management capabilities. Its teams can take responsibility for network operations, quality, safety, security, interline management, marketing, revenue optimization, claims and charter activity. This broader responsibility is supported by specialist operational expertise covering areas such as audits, risk assessments, operating standards, ground handling oversight, customs reporting and trucking arrangements. On-site supervision also gives airlines an informed presence where cargo is handled. Thominet says the group currently manages complete cargo activities for more than ten airlines, demonstrating the depth of responsibility it can assume. Technology supplies another essential connection. Following investment in digital capabilities since 2018, CargoTech brings together complementary businesses tackling different commercial tasks. CargoAI supports digital airfreight procurement. Wiremind Cargo addresses inventory, reservations, capacity, pricing and revenue optimisation. Rotate combines market data, analytics and software to improve commercial decisions. Aerios focuses on bringing charter operations and communications into a coordinated digital workflow