In our popular podcast series, cargo.one Founder & Co-CEO Moritz Claussen hosts candid chats with visionaries from all across the air logistics world, uncovering their formative experiences and most prized advice. Subscribe today!
cargo.one:one continues with a ULD-load of infectious energy, fascinating recollections, proven insights, and valuable steer from a big name in the North American air cargo scene – Jason Berry, Chief Operating Officer of Alaska Airlines, and EVP of Cargo at Alaska Air Group. With some 30 years of accomplishments across cargo, handling and passenger operations, Jason has much to share with us.
Aviation was a family affair for Jason, as he joined family members working at the airport as a child. Jason recalls watching the action of loading Emery Worldwide freighters, and getting to sit in the cockpit. Jason would return to the airport aged 18 years old, in hot pursuit of the higher wages it would bring: “I was serving tables for $4 an hour. And at the airport, I could make $8 an hour…I started as a cargo agent. I got to cut my teeth and I learned so much.”
Jason joined Cargolux, firstly within customer service roles, moving on to network and compliance and operations leadership. Jason is a text book example of learning the industry at the grass roots – amassing skills and instincts that would serve him for decades after: “That gave me the opportunity to drive a forklift, learn how to build and maximize cargo. Then I went into the office and actually worked the counter. I was getting all this access to different parts of the business.”
Enjoy the full length episode, here:
As a loadmaster, Jason got to “fly around with freighters and do the weight and balance” and moved up through the ranks to become a supervisor and a leader. Jason admits that he “never said no to any new role”, in time gaining more commercial experience: “I got to do the network thing and I got to set up the operations. Then I started negotiating the contracts and auditing our vendors.”
“It's always been in my blood. I love the frontline side of the business. Like there's nothing that inspires me more than our employees who are out there doing the work every day. I came from it.”
Jason Berry
While helping to power Cargolux’s massive expansion efforts, Jason built up his business acumen and commercial muscle: “That was really a galvanizing time for me…learning how to run a business, and not being afraid to go take some risks. We went out and we built, we found business, and that was a lot of fun.”
COVID resilience and entrepreneurship
Like many leaders in aviation, Jason faced existential business challenges during COVID. While the President of McGee Air Services, Jason recalls having to execute some remarkable pivots in the business model in order to safeguard the company and protect jobs: “COVID for me was a defining moment…I had to get a small group together, stay calm and figure out what can we do to keep this business going.”
Jason initially joined Alaska Airlines back in 2013, going on to lead its cargo division as its 'Mr Cargo'. After a successful stint with Air Canada Cargo, Jason returned ‘home’ to Alaska Air Group, including leading Horizon Air as President and recently appointed as COO of Alaska Airlines as well as EVP of Cargo. In his cargo capacity, Jason admits to loving the strategic challenges around growing cargo for a mainly passenger airline: “Cargo is one of the pillars – there's no more hiding, no more sitting in the background and just running our business. “There is now a spotlight on cargo, which I love. Like we're excited to take on that spotlight and go grow the business.”
Jason is well known as a compelling and talented leader who successfully brings together a wide array of teams to deliver many aspects in unison. As President of Horizon Air, Jason was recently at the helm of over 3500 employees. He believes that his past operational work and GM experience helps: “I think one of the things that's made me successful is I know how the operation works and I know how our employees want to be taken care of. I know what they need.”
For Jason, continually “moving the needle matters”. A real competitive asset is the ability to motivate teams to go beyond the ordinary: “I just realized over time, I was really good at creating healthy tension between all the work groups. I want our teams challenging each other…but we also need to care about each other and support each other.”
“I think that's sort of been my secret sauce – I can get pretty big work groups aligned and working together.”
Jason Berry
Air freight fit for tomorrow
In exploring the slower pace of digital adoption in air cargo vs the passenger sector. , Jason admits that historically there has been an “innovation gap” on the air cargo side. He is a well known and vocal advocate for digital freight, having led a number of impactful digital freight programs: “I think digitalization helps decision makers have access to more information, and information is power! Something that I'm seeing right now and pushing really hard with all of my teams is maximizing our use of our information to make the best decisions.”
For Jason, air cargo has a ton of potential to deliver the visibility and ease-of-use so commonplace in the passenger industry. While experience in the ups and downs of all markets has proven that “supply chains find their way”, Jason can envisage a broadening of air freight to attract far more types of shipper: “I think our job is to not make it so cryptic and difficult…We've got to have big bright lights shining ‘This is the way’, making sure that those manufacturers know ‘This is your path!’ We can build something durable that can support many different types of products.”
“We've got to find ways to run sustainable businesses that are predictable and bring for our customers – the freight forwarders and the shipping public – a mode of transport that is reliable, dependable and hits its targets.”
Jason Berry
Jason remains super energized about the future trajectory of air logistics, and is keen to ensure his teams remain in a winning position. He is also a valuable advocate for the industry as a whole: “We're a humble industry in that we don't really share what we're doing for the world. And I'm always talking about how important it is for global supply chains…we do good for so many people.” With a career as diverse and fun as Jason’s, he embodies a remarkable professional spirit and inspiration for many of us.
Want to know which surprising destination was Jason’s favorite to visit as a loadmaster? Tune into Episode 12 now to find out! 🤩
cargo.one:one features many more exciting guests in the series. If you enjoyed this episode, stay tuned to our blog or subscribe using your favorite podcast platform including Spotify, Apple podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, Castbox and more.
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