Security in air cargo is no longer about routine compliance, it’s about responding in real time to dynamic threats and unpredictable environments. From emerging technologies to post-conflict demining, Global K9’s Chris Daniels believes that complacency is the biggest risk facing the sector:“
Every operation is different. The regulations are different. The space is different. What clients need in one location isn’t the same in another,” said Daniels. “But the danger is always the same: you solve one threat, shift focus to the next, and forget why those first systems were in place. It’s not just about security,” he said. “It’s about helping the industry adapt, stay resilient, and rebuild where it’s needed most.”
Daniels warned that short institutional memory—especially in a high-turnover, cost-sensitive environment—leads to vulnerabilities: “Resources are finite, and over time companies ease up on old threats, thinking they’re solved. But as soon as you stop securing them, they resurface.”
AI behind the leash
Global K9’s frontline security teams often look traditional, but behind the scenes, machine learning and AI are doing just as much heavy lifting.
“We’ve had AI integrated into our service for years,” Daniels noted. “People see the dog, but what they don’t see is the camera feeding into our system, reading barcodes, matching airway bills, logging data, and enabling clients to search anything by time, location, or package ID.”
This digital layer helps streamline operations and remove paper-based bottlenecks. “You’re not just screening,” Daniels explained. “You’re generating searchable intelligence—data that clients can use immediately.”
Rather than selling a fixed product, Daniels said Global K9 takes a modular approach: “We’re a detection service, yes. But sometimes that means dogs, sometimes it means hand searches, x-ray, or ETD tech. Every warehouse flow is different. Our job is to make it more efficient without duplicating effort.”
That same mindset extends to their hiring strategy. Cargo security often means long, unsociable hours, something that affects recruitment and retention.
“You can’t change when cargo moves,” Daniels said. “So we ask: how do we improve the employee experience?”
Geopolitics isn’t just a headline—it shapes cargo flows in real time.
“If a region stops consuming, volumes drop. If aid or supplies are needed urgently, volumes spike,” Daniels said. “Security doesn’t scale one-to-one with volume, but long-term conflict or disruption will change the landscape permanently.”
Smart expansion, realistic timelines
As the company looks ahead, Daniels said the focus is on expanding services to underserved airports in the US and Europe—locations that want to compete for cargo volumes but lack infrastructure.
“We’re not planning for 2025—we’re already executing on it. Dog team readiness alone can take up to 16 weeks. You have to be building now to meet future demand.”
The company is also integrating more flexible tech tools into client environments, where Daniels admitted adoption is still a major barrier: “Everyone talks about digitalisation, but it doesn’t mean much if networks don’t actually implement the tech. We try to introduce tools alongside other operational changes, so it becomes part of one transformation, not an added burden.”
