Airfreight pioneer Dieter Haltmayer passes away at 91

Dieter Haltmayer, the founder of Quick Cargo Service (QCS) and one of the most respected names in global logistics, has passed away at the age of 91. His death marks the end of an era for the air cargo and freight forwarding industry, where he was widely known as a pioneer, a mentor and a strong believer in long-term relationships.

For more than five decades, Haltmayer helped shape modern airfreight in Europe. He built a company that grew steadily, stayed independent and remained family-owned, while earning trust across the global logistics sector.

Early career: Learning freight from the inside
Dieter Haltmayer began his professional journey in the airline industry. Before starting his own company, he spent many years working in air cargo roles at major international airlines, including British European Airways (BEA), British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) and Air Canada.

These early years shaped the way he looked at logistics. He learned freight from the ground up and understood how airlines, customers and forwarders depended on one another. Later in life, he once reflected on this period by saying, “Those years taught me that air cargo is not just about speed, but about responsibility and trust.”

This belief stayed with him throughout his career and became the core of everything he later built.

The birth of quick cargo service
In 1974, at the age of 40, Dieter Haltmayer founded Quick Cargo Service in Frankfurt, Germany. It started as a small company with limited staff and resources, but with a very clear purpose. Haltmayer wanted to create a freight forwarding business that customers could rely on, not just for prices, but for honesty and consistency.

He did not believe in rushing growth. Instead, he focused on doing the basics right. Speaking years later, he explained his thinking simply: “If you take care of your customers and your partners, growth will come on its own.”

In 1977, QCS received its IATA accreditation, an important step that allowed the company to expand its airfreight operations and work more closely with international airlines.

Steady growth across Europe
As the years passed, QCS expanded carefully beyond Frankfurt. New offices opened across Germany and later in other European countries including the Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark and Poland. The company handled both air and sea freight and served a wide range of industries.

Even as QCS grew, Haltmayer remained firm on one point. Decisions had to stay close to customers. He believed local teams understood local needs best, and that strong relationships mattered more than size.

Although global logistics groups showed interest in acquiring QCS, Haltmayer chose to keep the company independent. He believed that family ownership allowed the business to think long-term and act with fairness, rather than chasing short-term gains.

Changing the industry through cooperation
One of Dieter Haltmayer’s most important contributions to the logistics sector came in 2000, when he helped establish the IGLU airfreight alliance. At the time, many medium-sized freight forwarders were struggling to compete with large multinational companies.

Haltmayer believed the solution was cooperation, not confrontation. He brought independent forwarders together and encouraged them to combine their air cargo volumes. This gave them stronger negotiating power with airlines and a more stable position in the market.

Explaining the idea behind IGLU, he once said, “Alone, many companies are too small. Together, they can be strong without losing who they are.”

The alliance grew steadily and became a respected model in the industry, proving that collaboration could help independent companies survive and succeed.

A leader respected across the industry
Dieter Haltmayer was known for his calm and thoughtful leadership style. He believed logistics was a people business, built on trust, respect and long-term commitment. Colleagues often described him as disciplined, fair and deeply focused on quality.

He also placed great importance on passing knowledge to the next generation and supporting young professionals entering the industry. His contribution was formally recognised in 2010, when he received an industry award for his lifelong service to air cargo.

Building a family legacy
Keeping QCS in the family was always close to Haltmayer’s heart. Over time, his children joined the company and took on senior responsibilities. Stephan Haltmayer assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer and led sales, strategy and expansion. Heidi Haltmayer managed administration and internal operations, while Jennifer Melnyk oversaw finance and long-term planning.

Together, they continued to grow the company while preserving the values their father had established from the beginning.

Recognition and achievements
QCS earned strong international recognition under Haltmayer’s leadership. In 2016, the company received a “Best in Class” accreditation, highlighting its high standards, strong partnerships and successful alliance approach.

Today, QCS is counted among the leading owner-managed freight forwarders in Germany, with a solid presence across Europe and a reputation for reliability and professionalism.