The annual Air Cargo Week (ACW) World Air Cargo Awards (WACA) are set to be bigger and better than ever when attendees gather at air cargo Europe 2025 in Munich!
ACW has revamped the format and approach to the Awards, guided by valuable industry feedback and through detailed internal discussions. While the previous formula—based on industry voting—was transparent, ACW recognised certain challenges. Chief among them was the perception that the Awards were no longer entirely objective, and that they weren’t always based on merit.
This required ACW to rebuild trust in the process. Additionally, the nomination and voting process was seen as somewhat complex, and it was realised that certain segments of the industry, especially smaller companies, were not adequately represented.
To address these concerns, ACW has streamlined the process, enhanced the awards’ criteria, introduced a jury system, and updated the categories to better reflect the entire industry.
Greater recognition
2025 will see ACW introduce several new award categories and sub-categories to give companies a greater chance to shine. Going forward, there will be a total of 20 awards in 12 categories, providing better representation and inclusivity across the air cargo value chain.
This will provide opportunities for a broader range of companies to participate as it is not always fair to compare a local or regional player with a large global company, so, in some cases, ACW has split Awards by company size or region. For others, where size or location doesn’t impact competitiveness, we’ve maintained a single award category to reward merit alone.
“Entering the WACA helps you learn how to present your company in the best possible light. Focus on highlighting your strengths, be transparent, and stay true to what your company stands for. Additionally, prepare thoroughly by understanding what the award criteria are, and don’t be afraid to seek feedback for improvement,” Steven Polmans, Managing Director of Air Cargo Week, explained.
“Even if you don’t win, being nominated is an achievement in itself. Participation allows you to showcase your strengths, both internally and externally.
“More importantly, the feedback from the jury or industry can provide valuable insights on where to improve. It is an opportunity to refine your approach and better understand what the industry values, which can be crucial for future success.”
Industry input and an independent jury
An international and neutral jury will evaluate each participant’s submission based on the criteria for each Award. The jury will assess participants on two levels: How well the company performs overall against the criteria and how much the company has improved on the specific criteria over the past year.
The companies with the highest scores will be selected for the next round, where the industry will vote. The number of selected companies (nominees) may vary per category, but this will be clearly stated on the website before the start of the campaign.
The final result is based on the sum of points awarded by the jury and the industry vote.
While no system is perfect, ACW believes combining jury votes and industry votes offers the best of both worlds. This hybrid approach ensures that both expert opinions and broader industry perspectives are considered.
By balancing the weight of points earned from the jury versus industry voting, ACW aims to create a more impartial and balanced outcome. Additionally, the presence of multiple jury members prevents any individual bias from skewing results, with the jury overseeing the entire process to ensure fairness and integrity. This is important as they too put their reputation on the table by joining.
“Ensuring fairness and transparency is our top priority and is the foundation of the changes we’ve made. We’ve introduced an independent jury of neutral industry experts who will handle the nomination of finalists,” Polmans explained.
“Winners will be determined through a balanced combination of jury points and industry votes. However, online voting will carry less weight compared to previous years to ensure a more objective outcome.
“Our approach is a bit similar to the voting process in the Eurovision Song Contest, where jury input balances public voting. We’ve also placed greater emphasis on year-over-year achievements, ensuring companies are recognised for current improvements rather than past successes.”
See you in Munich!
What are you waiting for? Participating is straightforward, it boosts your company’s visibility, and it is a great way to promote your brand both internally and externally. It can also be a fantastic motivational tool for your team. ACW understands that some companies may have stopped participating in the past because they felt they didn’t stand a chance. With the changes made, ACW hopes to see these companies return, as the value of winning an award has only increased with the new and improved process.
For more information on the awards, process, categories, jury and sponsorship opportunities, visit:
https://worldaircargoawards.com/