Cargo leaders powering IndiGo’s global growth

Liesbeth Oudkerk, the former Senior Vice President of Cargo Sales and Network Planning at Qatar Airways Cargo, has taken on a new role as the Regional Head of Europe for IndiGo, India's largest airline and the largest individual airline in Asia by fleet size and total passengers carried. She will be based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

With nearly 34 years of experience in both cargo and passenger sectors, Oudkerk is a seasoned professional in the aviation industry. Before taking on the role of Senior Vice President of Cargo Sales and Network Planning at Qatar Airways Cargo, she held key leadership positions, including VP of International Stations for Air France-KLM and Vice President of Digital Transformation at KLM. Her expertise extends to roles like VP of Network Planning & Freighter Management for Air France KLM Martinair Cargo, and VP of Capacity and Schedule Planning at KLM. She began her career as a Reservoir Engineer at TNO, an independent, non-profit organisation that pioneers applied science and technology, playing a multifaceted role in innovation and research.

In July 2023, when Guillaume Halleux left his role as Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways Cargo, Oudkerk stepped in as the acting Chief Officer Cargo. This continued until January 2024, when Mark Drusch was formally appointed as Halleux's replacement at the world’s largest cargo carrier.

Oudkerk is not the only air cargo professional driving IndiGo's growth. IndiGo's current Chief Commercial Officer of Cargo, Mark Sutch, is also taking on additional responsibilities at the airline. He will be helping to build IndiGo's overseas network and putting some structure in place. Sutch brings a wealth of experience from both the passenger and cargo sectors. Sutch previously served as Chief Commercial Officer at CMA CGM Air Cargo, the air cargo division of the French shipping and logistics company CMA CGM. Before that, he spent 25 years at Cathay Pacific Airways, where he held various management roles across the organisation.

These developments are pivotal as IndiGo looks to expand both domestically and internationally. Oudkerk will play a key role in driving the airline's growth in Europe. Notably, IndiGo is reportedly set to wet lease six Boeing 787-9 aircraft from Norse Atlantic Airways, a Norwegian low-cost, long-haul carrier. These aircraft will not only support IndiGo’s ambitions to expand its European operations but will also provide significant belly cargo capacity, strengthening the airline’s presence in the air cargo market.

IndiGo currently operates two Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, which are on wet lease from Turkish Airlines. Last year, the airline placed an order for 30 Airbus A350-900 aircraft. Additionally, the airline holds purchase rights for an additional 70 aircraft for the Airbus A350 family, bringing the total potential order to 100 aircraft. These strategic moves are part of IndiGo's broader plan to expand its fleet and enhance its long-haul capabilities.

IndiGo has a fleet of over 400 aircraft, primarily consisting of the narrowbody A320 family. The airline has also placed an order for 69 Airbus A321 XLRs. These new Airbus A321 XLRs, with a range of 8,700 km, will also enable IndiGo to connect with key destinations across Europe.

The report was originally published in The STAT Trade Times.