The carrier has appointed Jason Berry Vice President of Cargo effective January 1, 2021. Mr. Berry joins Air Canada from Alaska Airlines’ wholly owned subsidiary McGee Air Services where he served as President.
On Friday (November 27, 2020), Air Canada announced the appointment of Jason Berry as new Vice President of Cargo effective January 1, 2021. He will be based at the carrier’s Montreal headquarters and report directly to Air Canada’s Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Lucie Guillemette. Mr. Berry joins the airline from Alaska Airlines’ wholly owned subsidiary McGee Air Services, where he served as President and was responsible for all aspects of ground handling including aircraft grooming, check-in and gate services. Between 2012 and 2019 he led Alaska’s cargo business with responsibility for all aspects of operations, including revenue growth and compliance. Prior to joining Alaska Airlines, he held positions of increasing operational responsibilities at several air cargo handlers and operators.
In Friday's announcement, Ms. Guillemette, said,
“Jason's entrepreneurial approach combined with his solid air cargo background is well-suited to operationalize these commercial opportunities and lead the strategic direction of our cargo business to optimize the growth of e-commerce while leveraging Air Canada's fleet and global reach.”
Mr. Berry holds an MBA from the University of Washington’s Michael G. Foster School of Business and a bachelor’s degree in IT Technology Administration and Management from Central Washington University. He also has an associate's degree in Business and Commerce from South Seattle College.
As part of today’s personnel announcement, Air Canada also provided an update on their cargo business and strategic plan to adapt to evolving market opportunities. The airline has operated 3,500 all-cargo flights globally to date and plans on converting several of their 767-300ERs to freighters. The company’s pilots, represented by the Air Canada Pilots Association (ACPA), recently concluded and ratified a collective agreement amendment which will allow the airline to operate dedicated cargo aircraft competitively. Speaking on the airline’s cargo business, Air Canada’s Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Lucie Guillemette, said,
“Air Canada and Air Canada Cargo have pivoted quickly to new and unique commercial opportunities in response to evolving market conditions over the past 11 months, and Air Canada was the first airline globally to transform aircraft and double freight capacity by removing seats to enable cargo transport in the passenger cabin. We now operate up to 100 international, all-cargo flights weekly, and with ACPA's recent ratification on cargo operating arrangements, we are planning the conversion of several owned Boeing 767-300ERs recently retired from passenger service to all-freighter aircraft, which will position Air Canada to continue growing its cargo business across the global supply chain.”
Air Canada Cargo is a multiple award winning cargo provider and offers global scheduled, chartered and special cargo services. In addition to belly-hold cargo, the company also transports freight on cargo-only mainline widebody aircraft as well as four transformed Boeing 777-300ERs and three Airbus A330s, which have been modified to carry cargo in the passenger cabin.
Source: Air Canada