Joachim von Winning is the director of Cargo Partnerships at Frankfurt Airport, which brought 25 years of experience throughout the industry, including land handling, real estate, retail, food and drink and air freight. During his career, he held important roles, especially as chief commercial officer of the Cairo airport during the Arab Spring and eight years as the executive director of Frankfurt’s air freight community.
Since 2023, Von Winning has been focused on strengthening the cooperation of the industry and improving Frankfurt’s position as a leading global cargo. He has a MA in logistics and this from the University of Mannheim and an MBA from the University of Nottingham, which combines academic expertise with extensive practical experience in airport operations and air freight logistics.
How did you end up in air freight/logistics?
After studying logistics as my major and serving in the German Council of AianC, the International Student Organization, it was clear that my career would be in global logistics. Of the southwest of Germany, maritime delivery was not a natural pace, so aviation was the logical choice.
Which quote sounded to you most?
This is not the most historical quote, but I recently heard “groups prefer their members”, which explains so many things.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
“Erst Schlucken, Dann Lachen” (first swallowing, then laughs).
What is the most adventurous thing you have ever done?
Skydiving during my stage in South Africa.
If you could eat or die with any three people, who would it be and why?
Friedrich von Hayek for his insights into the economy, Adam Smith for his foundation in economic theory, and Margot Robbie for her ‘fascinating stories from the film industry’ (don’t tell my girlfriend)
What is something we wouldn’t know about your resume?
I like Scottish whiskey and twice a year, I have a whiskey night with a friend, where I also cook with whiskey.
What hobby have you always wanted to try, but never got there?
I’ve always wanted to complete my parachuting certification. I started it in South Africa, but I couldn’t finish because my stage ended.
If you did not pursue a career in aircraft, what other field would you have had?
I would like to discuss photography. Although I had the ambition, I didn’t have the talent.
What is your most memorable moment in the air freight industry?
When a dear friend and an integral part of our community with bone marrow cancer were diagnosed. The entire community came together and arranged an airport-wide typing campaign for the national bone marrow database. The first person who contacted me to provide their support was our liaison officer of Customs.
What was your dream job as a child?
As a child, my dream job was to be a conductor on the island track on Borkum. What is the biggest change you have seen in the industry? How Frankfurt’s air freight community of a fragmented group turned into a genuine, coherent community.
What is the most unusual thing you’ve ever sent?
At the beginning of my career, Fedex transported a whale via Frankfurt Airport. I have encountered many more divergent consignments ever since, but nothing has surpassed that whale.
What is a buzzword that you secretly dislike?
It used to be ‘blockchain’, but now it’s ‘e-commerce’.
Window or corridor?
Window chair.
What is the best business lesson you have learned in the difficult way?
Choose your boss wisely.
If you could exchange a day with someone, who would it be?
A luxury travel blogger. I would like to explore exotic destinations and share those experiences with a wide audience, but I would prefer if someone else writes the travel blog!
What three items would you bring to a desert island?
My partner (though I think she would object to be considered an item), a survival set and a fully charged e -book reader with a solar panel charger. Tea or coffee? It used to be tea, now it’s coffee.
What is your guilty pleasure -tv program or -Film?
“Love actually.” The opening and closing ranges echo with the reason we work in aviation, and I can experience that magic every day on the way to and from the office.
