This article was authored by Brian Munson, Vice President of Charter Sales, Atlas Air Worldwide
Flexport CEO Ryan Petersen and his Chief of Staff Gopi Govada recently joined us on a 747 flight from Hong Kong to Los Angeles, getting a firsthand look into our Atlas operations. As a leading technology platform for global logistics, Flexport leverages Atlas’ expertise in air cargo to help their customers build flexible and resilient supply chains.
I had the pleasure of accompanying Ryan and Gopi on this special journey, which took us from Hong Kong International Airport through Anchorage and finally to Los Angeles.
At each stop, Ryan and Gopi dove deep into our operations, closely observing our teams as they loaded and unloaded cargo and asking insightful questions about every aspect of the process.
The dedication of our ground crews stood out. In Hong Kong, Station Manager Frank Wong orchestrated the precise loading of cargo. In Anchorage, Kevin Miller’s team demonstrated the swift, careful coordination needed during our transit stop. Jim Li’s crew in Los Angeles brought it all home with skilled efficiency.
In the cockpit, our pilots showed why they are among the best in the business. Captain Joah St. John led the crew from Hong Kong to Anchorage, with Officers Justin Phillips and Nicholas Dangelo. Captain Aaron Hildred and Officer Russell Bramley took the controls for the final leg to LA.
The flight even had an unexpected personal touch – Gopi discovered that Captain Hildred and First Officer Bramley had lived in his hometown in Hong Kong. It’s moments like these that remind us how connected the world of aviation really is.
This flight showcased what Atlas does best: moving cargo efficiently and safely a
cross the globe. From our ground crews to our pilots, every team member played their part in making this flight successful.
“Flying on our freighters and seeing our teams in action, delivering air cargo firsthand, was a truly incredible experience,” said Ryan. “Air freight is the backbone of global trade, connecting businesses and consumers worldwide, and I’m proud that Flexport’s partnership with Atlas continues to deliver top-quality services and solutions for our customers globally.”
Our partnership with Flexport has grown significantly since it began in 2017. In 2020, our two companies signed a long-term partnership to address the growing demand for Flexport’s airfreight services. This partnership initially introduced two dedicated freighters operating between Asia and the U.S. In September 2022, it expanded with the addition of a third Boeing 747-400 freighter, broadening Flexport’s network to include services from Asia to the U.S. This long-term partnership has significantly enhanced schedule reliability and operational quality for Flexport customers, while enabling them to leverage robust airfreight networks to drive multi-modal supply chain strategies.
Atlas and Flexport’s partnership has gone beyond flight operations, too —we have built deep system integrations that provide live schedules, automated clearance processes, and real-time visibility on all exceptions for Flexport customers and operational teams.
As shipments moved through their lifecycle, Ryan continuously tracked their “digital twin” through the Flexport platform. He saw exceptions appear as flight schedules changed, tracked shipments instantly in the Flexport platform based on the plane’s live GPS coordinate, and observed shipments being marked as received at their destination upon scanning the ULD (unit load device) during unloading. The advanced manifest was seamlessly posted in the Flexport platform for clearance. This integration showcases the “magic” made possible by Atlas and Flexport, delivering unparalleled visibility and efficiency for Flexport customers.
For Ryan and Gopi, this trip was a chance to see how air cargo fits into the bigger picture of global trade. For me, it was an opportunity to show why Atlas Air has earned its strong reputation as a global leader in outsourced aviation logistics.
It was a career highlight for me to spend this quality time with our valued customer and learn more about their goals and our shared commitment to delivering service quality and innovation. I walked away from this 14-hour mission full of pride, knowing that we do more than just move goods with Flexport; we work together to help drive global supply chains.
