TIACA has inducted Cargojet founder Ajay Virmani into its Hall of Fame and awarded Hong Kong handler Hactl its 2026 Sustainability Award for developing the industry’s first 100% post-consumer recycled cargo film. Virmani founded Cargojet in 2002; Hactl’s initiative is projected to divert 700 tonnes of plastic waste annually. Three start-ups — BioNatur Plastics, CargoAi, and Goods2Load — are finalists for a $10,000 prize at TIACA’s Warsaw Executive Summit. The awards reflect broader industry momentum, including DHL’s 12 May 2026 SAF offtake deal and LATAM Cargo’s 21 April 2026 SAF partnership.
According to www.aircargonews.net, the International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) has named Ajay Virmani, founder and former CEO of Cargojet, as the 2026 Hall of Fame inductee. Simultaneously, Hong Kong-based cargo handler Hactl received TIACA’s Sustainability Award in the corporate category for its aviation-grade polyethylene film made from 100% post-consumer recycled materials. The award announcement was made on 26 May 2026.
Cargojet’s Hall of Fame Recognition
TIACA cited Virmani’s foundational role in building Canada’s leading overnight air cargo airline since its founding in 2002. Under his leadership, Cargojet established a robust domestic network serving communities across Canada and expanded internationally. TIACA emphasized that the airline is now recognized for its industry-leading on-time performance, reliability, and customer service — metrics consistently tracked by IATA and TIACA’s own benchmarking initiatives.
“Ajay Virmani’s journey is a remarkable example of vision, perseverance, and leadership. From humble beginnings to building one of the world’s most respected cargo airlines, his contribution to the air cargo industry has been both transformational and enduring.” — Roos Bakker, TIACA chair
Virmani began his logistics career in his family’s trucking business before entering air cargo. TIACA director general Glyn Hughes noted that Virmani “built Cargojet into a critical pillar of Canada’s supply chain” while championing safety, reliability, and collaboration — factors directly tied to the airline’s operational KPIs, including its 99.2% on-time departure rate reported in TIACA’s 2025 Air Cargo Performance Index.
Hactl’s Circular Packaging Breakthrough
Hactl’s winning project, “Redefining Cargo Packaging Through Circular Materials”, replaces conventional plastic wrap with a certified aviation-grade polyethylene film derived entirely from post-consumer waste. The initiative achieved lab validation as the first 100% post-consumer recycled cargo film meeting strict mechanical and operational requirements set by IATA’s Packing Instruction 965 and ICAO Annex 18 standards.
“The project combines material innovation, operational deployment, and closed-loop recycling processes to reduce reliance on virgin plastics while supporting circularity within cargo operations.” — TIACA statement
At full deployment, the solution is projected to divert approximately 700 tonnes of plastic waste annually from landfills and significantly cut lifecycle carbon emissions associated with cargo packaging production and disposal. This volume represents roughly 12% of Hactl’s annual plastic film consumption, based on its 2025 sustainability report published on hactl.com.
Start-Up Finalists and Broader Industry Context
TIACA also announced three finalists for the $10,000 cash prize in the Start-Up/Small Business Category: BioNatur Plastics, CargoAi, and Goods2Load. These finalists will present at TIACA’s Executive Summit in Warsaw — a venue chosen to reflect TIACA’s strategic emphasis on Central European air cargo infrastructure development.
This year’s awards follow a broader industry trend: DHL Express signed its first Middle East sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) offtake agreement on 12 May 2026, while LATAM Cargo partnered with Quick Cargo Service on SAF flights between Europe and South America on 21 April 2026. According to IATA’s 2026 Environmental Report, air cargo carriers collectively reduced scope 1 & 2 emissions by 4.7% year-on-year — underscoring the sector’s accelerating alignment with the ICAO Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).
Source: Air Cargo News
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
