Celebrating innovation and partnership at the 12th Payload Asia Awards

by

The air cargo and logistics community gathered at the Four Seasons Hotel Singapore on 24 October 2025 for the 12th Payload Asia Awards — an evening celebrating leadership, innovation, and partnership across the regional and global supply chain.

This year’s edition featured 25 award categories recognising achievements across carriers, airports, express operators, handlers, freight and logistics service providers, cold chain specialists, technology innovators, and solution partners — reflecting the sector’s continued evolution and resilience.

Notably, this year’s edition introduced a new category: the Shipper of Choice – Collaboration Award. The award recognises organisations that actively foster transparent, trust-based, and solution-driven partnerships across the supply chain. It reflects a shift away from transactional engagement toward shared value creation, where shippers, carriers, forwarders, handlers, and service providers co-design solutions, align priorities, and adapt together.

Its inclusion underscores how long-term resilience increasingly relies on collaboration, particularly as the industry navigates digitalisation, sustainability targets, and shifting market demands.

Opening the evening, Payload Asia Publisher and Awards Chairman Lee Keen Whye highlighted the importance of unity and shared purpose across the industry. He noted that success in today’s landscape is no longer defined by operational strength alone, but by the quality of collaboration, where shippers, carriers, forwarders, and logistics partners work together to build supply chains that are stronger, smarter, and more responsive.

This message framed the night’s overarching theme of collaboration, technology, and sustainability as core drivers of the industry’s next chapter.

Keynote speaker Grégoire Thomas, Regional Director and Head of Integrated B2B, Samsung Electronics Southeast Asia and Oceania.

Keynote spotlight: Technology as an enabler of smarter supply chains
The programme featured a keynote address by Grégoire Thomas, Regional Director and Head of Integrated B2B at Samsung Electronics Southeast Asia and Oceania, who shared insights on how digital transformation is taking shape across logistics environments in the region.

Thomas highlighted the increasing integration of 5G, IoT, AI, cloud-based coordination, and secure mobile ecosystems to strengthen operational resilience. He outlined Samsung’s shift toward integrated enterprise solutions designed to support efficiency and sustainability at scale.

Among the solutions showcased was Samsung’s battery-powered e-paper display, developed for airport and cargo facilities to reduce infrastructure requirements and lower carbon footprint, illustrating how practical innovation can directly enhance performance reliability and operational impact.

12th Payload Asia Award Winners:

  • IT Provider of the Year – IBS Software
  • Air Cargo Automation of the Year – Lödige Industries
  • Air Cargo Technology Provider of the Year – Hong Kong International Airport
  • Cargo Booking Platform of the Year – Cathay Cargo
  • Air Charter Broker of the Year – Chapman Freeborn
  • Cold Chain Service Provider – Asia Pacific – Asia Airfreight Terminal
  • Cold Chain Service Provider of the Year – WFS
  • Global Express Provider of the Year – DHL Express
  • Rising Cargo Carrier of the Year – Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics Services
  • Overall Carrier of the Year – Middle East – Etihad Cargo
  • Overall Carrier of the Year – Europe – Etihad Cargo
  • Overall Carrier of the Year – Asia Pacific – maskargo
  • Global Carrier of the Year – Turkish Cargo
  • Best E-Commerce Carrier – Asia Pacific – Cathay Cargo
  • Best E-Commerce Carrier – Middle East – Saudia Cargo
  • Best E-Commerce Carrier – Global – Cathay Cargo
  • Ground Handler of the Year – Europe – Vienna Airport
  • Ground Handler of the Year – Middle East – SATS Saudi Arabia
  • Ground Handler of the Year – Asia Pacific – SATS
  • Shipper of Choice – Collaboration – Skyworks Solutions
  • Global Ground Handler of the Year – SATS
  • Cargo Airport of the Year – Asia Pacific – Hong Kong International Airport
  • Cargo Airport of the Year – Europe – Budapest Airport
  • Global Airport of the Year – Changi Airport Group
  • Sustainability Advocate of the Year – DHL Express

The selection of this year’s winners combined online voting with the insights of an independent jury panel, bringing together diverse industry expertise and perspectives. The panel included John Peyton Burnett, Managing Director, TAC Index; Raymond Lo, CEO, Menzies CNAC Aviation Services Limited; Prof. Rod Franklin, Professor of Logistics Practice, The Kühne Logistics Institute; Emma Murray, Founder and CEO, Meantime Communications; Junard Cruz, CEO, Island Skies Alliance; Steven Verhasselt, Founder and Director, FB Cargo Strategy; Ir Dr Paul Tsui, Managing Director, The Janel Group of Hong Kong Ltd; Fabian Benjamin, CEO, MediaPlus; Brandon Fried, Executive Director, Airforwarders Association; and Celine Hourcade, Vice President, Global Head of ESG / Sustainability, SATS Ltd.

The 12th Payload Asia Awards was made possible through the support of Singapore Changi Airport, SATS, Hong Kong International Airport, and Technology Sponsor, Samsung — reflecting the ongoing collaboration and shared commitment that continue to shape the air cargo and logistics community.