Larry Coyne and Olivier Bijaoui join the TIACA Hall of Fame

The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) has inducted Larry Coyne and Olivier Bijaoui into the Hall of Fame today during the Air Cargo Forum.

Coyne is the founder and chairman of Coyne Airways. Olivier Bijaoui is the former CEO Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) and founder and CEO of OB Invest.

A TIACA spokesperson said: “Larry Coyne, well known in our industry, not just for establishing Coyne Airways and providing cargo charter flights to the fast-developing CIS countries, but also for a strong reputation for providing reliable and secure scheduled cargo services to some of the world’s most difficult to reach destinations, pioneering routes into the Caucases (Central Asia), as well as Afghanistan, Iraq as well as the oil-and-gas rich Sakhalin Island (Russia). Today’s services have expanded to include Africa, the Gulf and the Caspain regions.

“Larry has shown a passion for the air cargo industry that shined bright during his tenure as Chairman of TIACA. Larry Coyne was also a strong advocate for security after 9/11, liberalization of cargo traffic rights and the removal of obstacles to the growth of our industry.”

Said Coyne: “I am very honoured to be joining the Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame was created to recognize those that make significant change in the industry and I am humbled to be considered among the many industry leaders.”

The spokesperson said that Bijaoui was selected based on his “vision, tenacity and leadership that helped guide handling agents towards becoming global handling companies”.

The spokesperson added: “Olivier is known for turning a small cargo handling company SFS into the one of the largest ground handling companies on the globe and the largest cargo handling company.

“Between 2004 and 2016 he was Executive Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of WFS and when he left, the company had grown to 18,000 employees, was present at 188 airports in 22 countries, serving 300 airlines, handling four million tons of cargo and 50 million passengers per annum.”

Since leaving WFS, Bijaoui launched and founded OB Invest which has recently announced that he will act as an advisor to ground handler Alliance Ground International (AGI) to expand outside of North America.

Said Bijaoui: “I am delighted and honoured to join the impressive audience of TIACA Hall of Fame. The last 40 years in our industry have been a great experience and more importantly the pleasure to encounter so many great and truthful cargo people.

“I look to modestly continue to contribute to this industry which is now going through major and interesting changes. Thanks again to TIACA for granting me this prestigious award.”

Stated Sebastiaan Scholte, Chair of TIACA’s Chairman’s Council: “The impact both of these industry pioneers have made on our industry is truly impressive and I am honoured to have had the privilege of formally inducting them into the Hall of Fame.”