In 2024, Air Charter Service hit a historic milestone, logging over 30,000 flights – on average one flight every 17 and a half minutes. Behind the impressive number lies a blueprint built on people, technology, and a growing global footprint.
“I would say it is down to our heavy investment in our staff and their development through our extensive training, alongside our investment in technology and new office openings,” Dan Morgan-Evans, Global Director Cargo for ACS, said.
Alongside this, at the core of its operation, is ACS’s sustained digital evolution—a journey that began decades ago. “Digital transformation is not something that is a one-off investment – it has been ongoing since I got here more than 22 years ago! You can’t run a business with 37 offices globally without extensive digitisation,” Morgan-Evans explained.
Still, even with high-functioning technology, ACS remains clear on what sets it apart. “We also don’t want to lose sight of what this is – which is a people business. Relationships, trust and customer experience are really important to achieving these milestones – alongside technology,” he added.
Resilience, reaction, and relevance
With geopolitical currents shifting constantly, ACS has found strength in responsiveness. Morgan-Evans noted that demand trends have been anything but static. “I would say it’s a combination of things, but moving forward we have to be reactive to the changing landscape under Trump’s America. It is very hard to predict, but any type of disruption, and Trump is a disruptor, often creates opportunity.”
These waves of change—from US policy shifts to global uncertainties—haven’t thrown ACS off course. Quite the opposite, in fact. “Our network. We will have capacity somewhere in the world! We coped with Covid – I’m pretty sure you can throw anything at us now!” said Morgan-Evans, underscoring the company’s tested flexibility.
Scalable Culture
As ACS expands, scaling its culture has become a mission-critical task. For Morgan-Evans, that begins with unity and immersion at headquarters. “Firstly, every broker from around the world spends time in HQ, in London, training. For four weeks they are immersed in the heart of the business. This really sets the tone of who we are.”
The goal isn’t just operational alignment but talent retention and empowerment. “In terms of keeping talent – we offer good benefits, great earning potential and clear career progression. With the rate of expansion there is also plenty of opportunities around the globe,” he said. This approach has built a pipeline of globally distributed yet centrally aligned teams, ready to respond to the fast-paced demands of global airfreight.
From brokers to strategic architects
With market competition intensifying and technology disrupting traditional roles, the modern charter broker is no longer just a flight booker.
“We have to adapt and stay ahead! It’s not possible to be a one solution provider, which is why we have various products that we offer – including our TCS division (Time Critical Services) delivering hand carry (OBC), Next Flight Out and, in the US, our truck brokering team,” said Morgan-Evans.
This multi-channel strategy enables ACS to build comprehensive solutions for clients. “These different products can work together to provide tailored solutions that can involve all of our products,” he explained.
Facing the unknown
When asked about what’s next, Morgan-Evans didn’t hesitate: “Right now – Donald Trump. But maybe when this goes to press it may be something different and not US policy at all.”
This pragmatism reflects a veteran’s view of an unpredictable industry. “That’s why we love the airfreight industry. It can change so quickly and each day brings another problem to find a solution to,” he continued. Factors like trade shifts, technological advancements, market capacity, and geopolitical turbulence are all on the radar—and none can be underestimated.
What keeps ACS in front is its data-driven strategy. “Data and analytics are so important in my role. Much of our tech investment has been in our central operating system. This has been developed in house over the years, I think it’s currently on its 7th edition,” Morgan-Evans shared. “This tool enables us to get vast amounts of analytical data and enables brokers to focus where the data points.”
