Luxaviation ONE has appointed Markus Schmidt as Vice President Cargo, tasking a 20-year air-freight veteran to lead and expand the charter brokerage division's cargo operations across multiple regions and verticals.

The hire pulls Schmidt from Chapman Freeborn Airchartering, where he most recently served as Vice President Cargo Commercial Operations Europe. His CV also includes senior roles at Etihad Airways, Celebi Aviation Holding and Asiana Airlines, spanning cargo charter, commercial operations, supplier relationships, strategic account management and business development.

Luxaviation ONE operates as the dedicated charter brokerage arm of Luxaviation Group, a brand more commonly associated with managed business jets than with freighters. Schmidt's brief is to grow that freight book on top of an organisation that already runs full and part cargo charters, individual shipments, specialised volumes and dangerous goods movements.

What does the appointment change operationally?

The cargo team covers automotive, aerospace, oil and gas, mining, textiles and garments, humanitarian and government freight, valuables, artworks, e-commerce and general cargo. Schmidt joins a division that is no longer treated as a side business to Luxaviation's executive aviation core.

"Since establishing our cargo capabilities within Luxaviation ONE, we have seen significant potential to broaden the solutions we provide to clients," Luxaviation Group CEO Patrick Hansen said. "Markus's appointment is an important next step in that development, bringing extensive industry expertise to an established team and supporting our plans to further grow our cargo activities internationally."

Romain Alati, CEO of Luxaviation ONE, added that customer demand is fragmenting into more specialised niches. "Client requirements are becoming increasingly diverse, and our ambition is to be a trusted partner for air freight solutions," Alati said. "Markus brings extensive industry experience and a strong understanding of the market."

What is driving the build-out?

The group cited three macro factors behind the move: shifting trade flows, geopolitical disruption and continued supply-chain stress. Air freight, it argued, continues to gain share from ocean where timing and continuity matter more than the lowest tonne-mile cost.

That backdrop gives the cargo division a clear market tailwind, and Luxaviation Group's broader managed-jet network offers Schmidt both an aircraft-access angle and a relationship book that single-segment charter shops cannot easily match. What the division lacks, for now, is a roster of dedicated freighters — the position larger broker competitors use to scale.

What Schmidt says about his mandate

"Every cargo solution starts with the requirement," Schmidt said. "Whether it is a smaller shipment, a part charter or a larger charter operation, our role is to understand what is needed and identify the appropriate solution. I look forward to building on the expertise already in place and strengthening long-term relationships across our network."

The hiring of a rival's former European cargo chief is the most concrete signal yet that Luxaviation Group intends to scale air-cargo charter within its wider portfolio.

How that intent translates into reported tonnage, charter-hour volume or sector mix will be the next test — the announcement closes with a growth mandate rather than a published target.