Mike Duggan to lead Eastern Airlines’ freighter operations
Eastern Airlines has roped in Mike Duggan as director of International Cargo Business Development. Duggan will also be responsible to lead and support the carrier’s move into freighter operations.
US-based carrier Eastern Airlines has roped in Mike Duggan as director of international cargo business development. Initially responsible for Eastern’s efforts to develop and optimise its passenger aircraft belly cargo sales, Duggan will also be responsible to lead and support the carrier’s move into freighter operations.
Eastern, formerly called Dynamic Airways, operates a mix of scheduled and charter flights in Central and South America. With the carrier's foray into the freighter market, it aims to offer services to express and e-commerce companies. Currently, it is awaiting FAA approval to put cargo in the cabins of its passenger fleet. Duggan’s role involves business development, conversion and introduction of B767 Freighter and potentially B777 Freighter aircraft, project managing wet-lease/customer interaction with a selection of express and ecommerce related operators in the USA, Europe and potentially the Asia-pacific region. Duggan is working from London, United Kingdom, pending operational start-up of freighter operations as well as relaxation of international business travel restrictions.
Duggan has held several key positions in leading organisations such as Emirates SkyCargo, Southern Air, HAE Group, Saudia Cargo as well as DHL Worldwide Express in his early career. Mike’s career has been involved with air cargo operations globally, especially working on Freighter program development, wet-leasing and chartering of wide-body freighter aircraft such as B747F and B777F. More recently, Mike was actively engaged with key shippers in the automotive and pharmaceutical sectors such as Daimler Benz, with Singapore-based freighter forwarder TVS Asianics.
Based in Wayne, Pennsylvania, Eastern Airlines current management team has been in place since March 2019. Operating a mix of 8 B767-200/300 passenger aircraft, Eastern’s first B777, a passenger B777-200ER, will enter in to service in late 2020 or early 2021 – enhancing the airlines mix of scheduled passenger services primarily to Central and South America, with forthcoming expansion to China and Europe, as well as charter operations on behalf of the likes of US DOD to Europe and Middle East. The subsequent entry into service of B767 and/or B777 Freighter aircraft will enhance the airlines total service-offering for these large wide body aircraft types.
