News / Forwarders: can an airline do without them? An age-old debate airs

© Yanik Chauvin

The age-old debate about whether airlines need forwarders started up again at CNS in Dallas this week.

One senior airline executive  – very much off-the-record – said he was tired of asset-owners not making the most money, while the forwarders continued to reap rewards, adding: “We can do without them.”

Forwarders were quick to react.

“You would typically hear that from an airline who’s never met a customer, or never interacted with a customer directly,” said one senior forwarding executive.

“There are a lot ...