United Airlines Cargo Chief Jan Krems Retires After 12-Year Tenure

Jan Krems, president of cargo at United Airlines for more than 12 years, has announced his retirement effective September 2025, marking the end of a storied career that transformed United Cargo into one of the industry's leading players. Krems, inducted into The International Air Cargo Association's Hall of Fame in 2025, will be replaced by Chris Busch, currently managing director of Cargo Americas. This leadership transition occurs at a time when United Cargo is experiencing strong financial performance, with 2024 revenues reaching $1.78 billion and Q2 2025 cargo revenue up 22.6% to $527 million. Krems' legacy centers on building deep relationships with freight forwarders rather than exploiting high-margin opportunities, a strategy that created customer loyalty during market fluctuations.

His most notable achievement was navigating United through the COVID-19 pandemic by rapidly converting passenger aircraft into freighters, operating approximately 17,000 cargo-only flights and generating record revenues. Under his leadership, United Cargo consistently outperformed major competitors American Airlines and Delta, despite operating without a dedicated freighter fleet and relying instead on belly capacity in widebody aircraft and strategic chartered flights. The transition raises important questions about continuity in United's cargo strategy, particularly regarding relationship management with key customers like the U.S. Postal Service, Amazon, FedEx, and UPS.

While Busch brings experience from the Americas region, maintaining the relationship-first philosophy that Krems cultivated will be critical for sustaining United Cargo's competitive advantage. The timing also coincides with recent infrastructure investments, including a 165,000 square-foot refrigerated facility near Newark, suggesting the company remains committed to growth in high-value cargo segments like pharmaceuticals and perishables.