A Day in the Life: Airfreight Director
A Day in the Life of Bruno Acquarone Pan, Airfreight Regional Director at Saco AIR LATAM
My days start early, always with a mate (a traditional, caffeine-rich herbal drink from South America made by steeping the dried leaves of the yerba mate plant in hot water) in hand — and sometimes a coffee if the pace demands it. The first thing is usually handling urgencies, those “fires” that suddenly appear and are part of the adrenaline of our industry.
I typically have at least one call a day with one of the countries in the region or with a partner from our network. Those moments are key to coordinate, share updates, and reinforce the products and developments we’re working on.
The rest of the day is about planning and follow-up: reviewing results, fine-tuning strategies, and ensuring each regional office stays aligned with our common goals.
What I truly love about this industry is that no two days are ever the same. There’s always something new happening — and that’s what keeps it exciting, dynamic, and full of energy.
On a personal note, I always try to make time for my daughters, for the gym, and to unwind with friends. That balance is essential to keep both mind and spirit in the right place.
Typical responsibilities of an Airfreight Director
The main role of an airfreight director is to manage airfreight operations to ensure excellent operational performance and customer satisfaction. Their function oversees operational and strategic management, business development, leadership and team development, and client and partner relations.
Operational and strategic management
Airfreight directors manage all aspects of airfreight operations to ensure that shipments are handled efficiently and delivered timeously. They develop and implement growth and pricing strategies along with service innovations to increase their profitability and market share.
Business development
Additionally, airfreight directors identify new business opportunities and drive service innovation to meet evolving customer needs. Their role also requires negotiation of favourable rates with service providers to optimise service levels and cost.
Leadership and team development
Airfreight directors are responsible for mentoring and developing management and staff members to build a high-performance team. They guide and motivate all team members to create a culture of customer-centricity, continuous improvement, and accountability. Bruno and his team believe that team building and leadership are essential to their success. They actively foster a positive, collaborative workplace culture where people feel invested in, valued, and supported. This approach is the foundation of how they work, and they believe it’s the only way to lead and move forward together.
Client and partner relations
Airfreight directors collaborate with both sales and customer teams to develop solutions that build lasting relationships with key clients. They work together with partners, like airlines, customs brokers, agents, and freight forwarders, to ensure smooth operations. Also, they handle escalations and resolve any operational issues promptly.
