Oman Air Cargo has named Lesley Cripps as European Sales Manager to drive growth, develop key accounts and oversee its regional GSA network
With over 30 years of industry experience, Cripps will work closely with the Muscat team to strengthen Oman Air Cargo’s product-led services across Europe, the Middle East and the Far East
Her appointment coincides with the relaunch of the Muscat–Zurich winter service, operated four times weekly on Boeing 787s carrying general cargo, perishables and pharmaceuticals

Oman Air Cargo has appointed Lesley Cripps European Sales Manager, marking a significant step in its growth strategy.

Bringing over 30 years’ experience to the role, Cripps will build a key account programme in the region and oversee the airline’s General Sales Agents (GSA) network.

“Oman Air Cargo is ripe for growth, and I look forward to playing a role in continuing the transformation that is already underway,” said Cripps.

“The relaunch of our winter service between Muscat and Zurich demonstrates the strong demand in Europe, and I am excited to bring Oman’s offerings to more locations in the region.”

Cripps will work closely with Oman Air Cargo’s Muscat-based sales team to strengthen the airline’s product-led services across Europe, the Middle East, and the Far East.

“Lesley’s appointment coincides with our wider aim to boost Oman’s output worldwide,” said Michael Duggan, Head of Cargo, Oman Air.

“Having experienced regional sales managers based in-market helps us better understand our customers and respond more effectively to local needs; Lesley’s expertise will be invaluable in deepening those connections.”

Cripps’ appointment comes as Oman Air Cargo reintroduced its winter service to Zurich on Wednesday 1st October.

Responding to peak market demands, the winter service operates four weekly flights on the airline’s Boeing 787, offering capacity for general cargo, perishables, and pharmaceuticals.

Cripps is the first of three regional sales managers to be appointed and is currently attending the Aviation Connect conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, from 14th to 16th October.

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Eve Air Mobility and InvestSP hosted a strategic meeting in São Paulo to align next steps for eVTOL implementation in Brazil, targeting commercial launch in 2027
Discussions focused on regulation, infrastructure such as vertiports and charging stations, and workforce training to support Urban Air Mobility growth
CEO Johann Bordais said Eve is advancing both aircraft development and the full UAM ecosystem through close collaboration with authorities and partners
The eVTOL will be built in Taubaté with capacity for 480 units a year and has about 2,800 global orders worth US$14 billion

Eve Air Mobility, in partnership with InvestSP, held a strategic meeting in São Paulo that brought together authorities, representatives from regulatory, environmental and safety agencies, as well as operators, to discuss and align the next steps for implementing eVTOL in Brazil. The initiative addressed essential topics to enable the start of commercial operations of the electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft in 2027, including regulation, infrastructure development, such as vertiports and charging stations, and workforce training in the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) industry.

“This meeting reinforces our commitment to working side by side with authorities and strategic partners to enable the safe and efficient operation of eVTOL in Brazil. We are advancing not only in the development of the aircraft but also in building a complete ecosystem that includes infrastructure, regulation and workforce training in the Urban Air Mobility industry,” said Johann Bordais, CEO of Eve Air Mobility.

Eve’s eVTOL will be produced in Taubaté (SP), at a facility with the capacity to manufacture up to 480 units per year. The company already has around 2,800 global orders, including firm orders and letters of intent, valued at approximately US$14 billion. The model accommodates five occupants (one pilot and four passengers) and has a range of up to 100 kilometres, aiming to meet the demands of the UAM industry and serve short-distance intra-urban and regional missions.

“Eve chose the right location for eVTOL production: the state with the largest economy in the country, excellent infrastructure, a skilled workforce and a business environment favourable to innovation. Our goal now is to promote strategic integration between the public and private sectors to ensure that operations are safe, viable and sustainable,” said Thiago Camargo, Executive Vice President of InvestSP.

Eve projects a significant reduction in travel times on strategic urban routes, such as the connection between São Paulo’s southern zone and Guarulhos International Airport, from up to 150 minutes by land to about 15 minutes with the eVTOL. “The eVTOL has the potential to transform not only passenger transport but also sectors such as tourism, public safety and healthcare. The agility in transporting organs for transplants, for example, can save lives and redefine efficiency standards in major cities,” added Luiz Mauad, Vice President of Customer Services at Eve.

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Asia’s private charter market has outperformed the global average in the first nine months of 2025, with Air Charter Service’s Singapore office seeing a 61% increase in charter numbers year-on-year
Revenue growth has been even stronger, up 155%, driven by regional economic shifts, corporate relocations from Hong Kong to Singapore, and Singapore’s status as a major aviation hub
Large cargo charters between Cambodia and Thailand contributed to the surge, while underlying business growth remains robust at 65%, positioning ACS Singapore for record charter numbers and revenue by year-end and prompting team expansion to meet demand

Asia has seen strong growth in the private charter market over the first nine months of the year, outperforming the global average (based on WingX figures), and Air Charter Service’s business in the Southeast part of the region has seen its Singapore office experience incredible growth in that period, arranging 61% more charters than at the same stage last year.

Brendan Toomey, ACS Singapore’s CEO, commented: “We have had a great first nine months of the year, with charter numbers up by 61%, and we surpassed last year’s total last month. We have seen even larger growth in revenue figures, as we are up 155% on last year.

“The economic climate of the region, and Singapore in particular, has played its part in our success. With many companies relocating their regional headquarters out of Hong Kong in recent years, Singapore has benefitted, emerging as one of the top choices for several global corporations. The country’s growth is not only in the business world, it is also one of Asia’s main aviation hubs – the fourth busiest airport in the world for international passengers and an extremely busy one with cargo shipments.

“Our revenue has been buoyed, in part, by a series of large cargo aircraft charters that we arranged between Cambodia and Thailand, following the border closures in the region a few months ago, but underlying growth is still strong, at 65%. By the end of this year, we are set to have record levels both of charter numbers and revenue, our best since we opened in 2020. It’s an exciting time for the office – we have an amazing group here, and we are looking to add new members to the team over the coming months to cope with our growth in business.”

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SAF is the aviation industry’s most practical and scalable route to net-zero, cutting lifecycle emissions by up to 80% and now advancing under the UK’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill supported by CILT UK
Produced from waste and renewable sources, SAF can power aircraft without modifications, helping airlines meet sustainability targets while creating green jobs and new industrial opportunities
Government mandates and financial guarantees are driving investment, lowering costs and accelerating adoption, positioning SAF as the key to a cleaner, more resilient future for aviation

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) represents aviation’s most promising and practical path to reducing carbon emissions and achieving 2050 sustainability goals. In May 2025, the UK Government introduced the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill (SAF), which has reached Report Stage in Parliament. The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT UK) is helping the Government with advice and guidance on SAF and how it can help the logistics and transport sector.

But understanding SAF ‘s workings and benefits is crucial for the aviation sector – and why it must be embraced sooner rather than later. Geoff Maynard, member of the Aviation Policy Group at CILT (UK), recently gave evidence in Parliament to the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill Committee as MPs further consider the Bill.

Geoff Maynard has worked in the aviation sector for over 25 years, undertaking a wide range of aviation related commissions, many with extensive environmental content. Educated at Queens’ College, Cambridge, with a degree in Natural Sciences, Geoff has held senior positions in both the private and public sectors. He has worked on many major projects including Heathrow’s T5, the Olympic Terminal in Beijing, and a new airport for Eswatini.

Geoff gives his expert insight into SAF, its benefits, challenges, future and why the sector must embrace it.

SAF is a cleaner alternative to traditional jet fuel that can power aircraft without engine or infrastructure changes. Produced from sustainable resources like agricultural waste, used cooking oil, and municipal solid waste, SAF is a “drop-in” fuel that can be used in existing aircraft engines and fuel systems without modifications. It performs identically to traditional jet fuel in terms of energy density, freezing point, and combustion characteristics, requiring no special training or new equipment. SAF can also be produced using green electricity, water and carbon dioxide extracted from the air. This SAF, also known as e-fuel, could be produced in very large quantities – constrained only by the investment in new plant.

Raw materials undergo treatments to remove impurities, then hydro processing, gasification, or fermentation are used to transform them into high-quality aviation fuel that mimics traditional jet fuel properties. The aim for the government is to blend SAF fuel with traditional fossil jet fuel and with time increase the SAF fuel ratio and thus lower the use of fossil jet fuel.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) offers significant environmental advantages, primarily through a substantial reduction in lifecycle carbon emissions. Unlike traditional jet fuel, which releases ancient carbon into the atmosphere, SAF is derived from materials that recently absorbed atmospheric carbon dioxide, creating a closed carbon loop.
This process can lead to lifecycle carbon emission reductions of up to 80% compared to conventional fossil jet fuel.

Additionally, SAF contributes to waste reduction by repurposing materials such as used cooking oil, agricultural residues, and municipal waste into energy, fostering a circular economy in waste management and energy production.

The government is encouraging this trend by first, mandating the percentage of SAF that must be included in aviation jet fuel sold in the UK. Second the SAF bill currently going through parliament establishes a company that can contract with industry to produce SAF at an agreed cost. If the SAF is ultimately sold at a price more than the agreed cost the excess is returned to the Government. Conversely if the SAF is sold at less than the agreed cost, the Government reimburses the producer for the loss. In this way, the Government eliminates the uncertainty that private industry faces in producing SAF, ensuring they cover their costs but also ensuring sufficient SAF is available to meet the mandated percentage.

These measures will help SAF overcome its adoption barriers, primarily its high cost, which is two to five times greater than traditional jet fuel, impacting airline profitability and passenger pricing. The Government expects that as the mandated SAF percentage rises, volumes produced will rise and it will naturally bring the price down as demand goes up.

The development of SAF is creating new industries and economic opportunities, with companies investing in production facilities, research, and supply chains. This investment is generating jobs. For airlines, SAF is vital for achieving sustainability goals and meeting passenger demands for eco-friendly travel. The ability to hit sustainability targets by simply adding a fuel the mix is the biggest pull factor, but for this to happen Government must encourage and support the development and introduction of SAF. This year all jet fuel sold in the UK must by law contain 2% SAF, with the percentage rising linearly to 10% by 2030, and on to 22% by 2040.

The future of SAF looks promising due to advancements in technology and increased production. Researchers are creating new methods that lower costs and reduce environmental effects. Major airlines aim for net-zero, which means SAF will play a vital role. Aircraft are being designed for 100% SAF, and production capacity is set to grow.

The availability of fossil jet fuel will reduce as other sectors, notably road transport, move away from fossil diesel and petrol. SAF will fill this gap and with the support of CILT UK we are helping bridge the conversation between our industries, airlines and Government.

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