• Facing unpredictable fleet leasing cycles and geopolitical risks, charter broker Avico is shifting toward agile, tech-enabled models that prioritise responsiveness and customer-centric support.

• The company is integrating digital platforms to optimise freighter capacity, including empty leg utilisation, while maintaining a strong human connection with clients.

• Avico’s forward strategy centres on flexibility, supplier collaboration, and high service standards, positioning it to adapt quickly to evolving airfreight market conditions

Amid fleet availability shifts to erratic leasing cycles, operators and service providers within the broker and charter sector are rethinking traditional structures, focusing on building flexible models that emphasise responsiveness and real-time intelligence.

“The industry is evolving so fast at the moment that it’s a challenge to stay on top of the changes occurring, especially in the current geopolitical environment we’re in,” Pierre Vander Stichele, managing director and associate partner at Avico, said. “All of the above—geopolitical, regulatory and economic—are risks we have to constantly prepare for.”

Avico’s adaptability extends to its technological initiatives. The company has integrated multiple tools to enhance the effectiveness of its teams while maintaining a human touch with clients. “We have multiple tools to enhance the effectiveness of our teams and are always on the lookout for tools that will simplify our work, provided we keep a human-to-human touch with clients,” Vander Stichele emphasised.

This balance between technology and personal interaction is evident in Avico’s participation in digital platforms, where it lists freighter capacity for air charter customers and freight forwarders to purchase and trade. “We are aiming to optimise the capacity we are chartering and create value on otherwise empty legs on behalf of our customers across the airfreight community,” Sébastien Drieu, cargo director at Avico, added.

Preparing for the future

Looking ahead, Avico believes that flexibility and readiness to adapt to market fluctuations are key competencies for aviation businesses. “Flexibility and being ready to adapt to market fluctuations,” he advised. Avico’s model, which emphasises close relationships with suppliers and customers, positions it to tailor support effectively. “We stay close to our suppliers and customers. It’s only our closeness with them that allows us to tailor support,” he explained.

In an industry where customer service has declined significantly, Avico is taking the opposite approach by improving service levels and providing close support to clients. “Our standards are measured, and we share our experiences and client expectations,” Vander Stichele stated. “At Avico, we are very creative and encourage all employees to come up with suggestions.”