Ameriflight has named David Harvey as its next president and chief executive, putting him in charge of the largest US Part 135 cargo operator and its fleet of more than 100 aircraft.

Harvey steps into the top role at the Dallas-based carrier, which feeds overnight express networks for UPS and DHL and operates on-demand cargo charter flights across smaller airports that lack scheduled jet service. He succeeds the leadership arrangement installed in April 2024, when Ameriflight named a separate president and chief operating officer.

His 25-year aviation career spans commercial, charter, and cargo operations. At Southwest Airlines, where he spent more than two decades, Harvey ended his tenure as chief sales officer, leading sales across corporate, small and medium-sized business, government, and university segments. Earlier Southwest roles covered corporate strategy, network planning, commercial performance, and technology, and he helped lead the AirTran Airways integration.

After Southwest, Harvey served as chief commercial officer at Wheels Up, where his remit covered global marketing, sales, pricing, and revenue management. Most recently he advised airlines, travel technology firms, and enterprise clients on commercial strategy, distribution, and AI-enabled transformation.

What does the change signal?

Chairman Jim Martell framed the appointment as a growth push. "David brings the combination of aviation expertise, commercial discipline, and leadership experience we believe will help Ameriflight build on its strong foundation and accelerate its next chapter of growth," Martell said.

Martell identified three priorities: expanding the customer base, diversifying revenue mix, and pursuing new growth channels. "Ameriflight plays an important role in the aviation and logistics ecosystem, and we see significant opportunity to expand our customer base, diversify our revenue mix, and pursue new avenues for growth," he said.

The pairing is commercial in profile. Ameriflight's prior April 2024 president and COO appointments leaned toward operations. Harvey's sales, network planning, and AI-advisory background suggests a sharper focus on customer segmentation, pricing, and distribution in the period ahead.

What does Harvey prioritise?

Harvey struck a continuity-of-service theme in his first statement. "Ameriflight has built a remarkable business with an experienced team, a strong operating platform, and an important role serving customers across the aviation and logistics industries," he said.

"I'm excited to join the team and build on that foundation. We have a tremendous opportunity ahead of us to grow the business while continuing to deliver the safety, reliability, and service our customers depend on."

His framing pairs growth ambitions with the safety and reliability commitments integrators weigh most when renewing feeder agreements. That blend — commercial expansion without disturbing operational discipline — is the contract-renewal currency Ameriflight's largest customers trade in.

What is in the fleet?

Ameriflight has not published a detailed fleet breakdown or order book alongside the announcement. The carrier has historically operated a mix of Beechcraft 1900Ds, Cessna 208 Caravans, Fairchild Swearingen Metros, Short 360s, and other turboprop types suited to short-haul feeder routes. Ameriflight has not disclosed specific aircraft counts by type.

That opacity runs standard for Part 135 operators, which face fewer disclosure obligations than Part 121 carriers. Investors and analysts will look for fleet additions or retirements in FAA registry data and contract announcements with integrators to size the next phase.

Where does Ameriflight go next?

The UPS and DHL feeder markets reward operators who can scale reliably. Ameriflight's 100+ aircraft footprint gives it a seat at contract negotiations that smaller competitors cannot match.

Martell's reference to "diversifying revenue mix" implies growth beyond the UPS and DHL feeder work and into the carrier's on-demand charter book and adjacent customer segments. Ameriflight has not disclosed target verticals or contract categories.

For now, the new CEO faces the test of converting Martell's growth mandate — and his own Southwest and Wheels Up playbook — into contract wins and charter expansion at the largest US Part 135 cargo operator.