Atlas Air Appoints Former Polar Air Cargo Exec Kersti Krepp to Lead Global Scheduled Services

Why It Matters

Kersti Krepp’s appointment marks a strategic pivot for Atlas Air, shifting focus toward a more cohesive and profitable scheduled cargo operation. By unifying governance and commercial functions across continents, Atlas aims to capture rising demand in high‑growth markets such as Asia‑Pacific and South America, while addressing past governance lapses highlighted by the Polar fraud case. The move could reshape competitive dynamics in the global air‑cargo sector, where few carriers have a truly integrated scheduled network. If successful, the transformation could set a new industry benchmark for how legacy charter operators evolve into full‑service scheduled carriers. It also provides a case study in leveraging deep operational experience to drive network efficiency, potentially influencing other carriers grappling with fragmented service models.

Key Takeaways

• Atlas Air appoints Kersti Krepp as head of global scheduled services, effective April 2026
• Krepp brings nearly 30 years of air‑cargo leadership, including 24 years at Polar Air Cargo
• The role includes a mandate to unify scheduled services across Asia, the US, Central and South America
• Atlas ended its 17‑year joint venture with DHL/Polar in February 2025, retaining the Polar certificate
• The appointment follows a high‑profile fraud case at Polar that saw ten defendants sentenced, prompting tighter governance

Pulse Analysis

Atlas Air’s decision to install a seasoned veteran like Kersti Krepp at the helm of scheduled services reflects a broader industry trend: charter‑focused carriers are increasingly seeking stable, recurring revenue streams through scheduled operations. Historically, Atlas has excelled in ACMI and ad‑hoc charters, leveraging its large fleet flexibility. However, the volatility of charter demand—exacerbated by macro‑economic swings and pandemic‑era disruptions—has pushed the carrier to diversify. Krepp’s cross‑regional expertise and her intimate knowledge of both Atlas and Polar’s operational DNA position her to bridge the cultural and procedural gaps that have long hampered scheduled growth.

The transformation agenda is ambitious. Unifying governance across disparate regions demands not only structural changes but also a cultural shift toward data‑driven network planning. If Atlas can achieve disciplined network contribution management, it could improve load factors on marginal routes and free capacity for higher‑margin lanes. Moreover, the timing aligns with a surge in e‑commerce freight, especially in Asia‑Pacific, where demand is projected to outpace supply. By tightening commercial‑operational integration, Atlas may capture a larger share of this growth, challenging incumbents like FedEx and UPS that dominate scheduled cargo.

Nevertheless, execution risk remains high. The legacy of the Polar fraud case underscores the importance of robust compliance frameworks. Krepp’s mandate includes strengthening governance, but the integration of legacy Polar assets and the retention of the Polar certificate could expose Atlas to regulatory scrutiny. Success will hinge on the carrier’s ability to balance rapid network expansion with stringent oversight, a delicate act that will determine whether Atlas can truly reposition itself as a leading scheduled cargo provider.