Larry Coyne and Olivier Bijaoui join TIACA Hall of Fame

MIAMI, FLORIDA—The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) has inducted Larry Coyne, Founder and Chairman of Coyne Airways and Olivier Bijaoui, former CEO Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) and current Founder and CEO of OB Invest into the Hall of Fame during the recently concluded Air Cargo Forum. 

Coyne is well known in the industry not just for establishing Coyne Airways and providing cargo charter flights to fast-developing CIS countries but also for providing reliable and secure scheduled cargo services to some of the world’s most difficult to reach destinations, pioneering routes into the Caucasus (Central Asia), as well as Afghanistan, Iraq and the oil-and-gas rich Sakhalin Island (Russia). Today, its services have expanded to include Africa, the Gulf and the Caspain regions.

Coyne has shown a passion for the air cargo industry that shined bright during his tenure as Chairman of TIACA. He was a strong advocate for security after 9/11, liberalization of cargo traffic rights and the removal of obstacles to the growth of our industry.

“I am very honored to be joining the Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame was created to recognize those that make significant change in the industry and I am humbled to be considered among the many industry leaders,” said Coyne.

Olivier Bijaoui the former Executive Chairman, President and CEO of Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) was selected based on his vision, tenacity and leadership that helped guide handling agents towards becoming global handling companies.

Bijaoui is known for turning a small cargo handling company SFS into the one of the largest ground handling companies on the globe and the largest cargo handling company. Between 2004 and 2016, he was Executive Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of WFS and when he left, the company had grown to 18,000 employees, was present at 188 airports in 22 countries, serving 300 airlines, handling four million tons of cargo and 50 million passengers per annum.

Since leaving WFS, Olivier launched and founded OB Invest which has recently announced it will act as an advisor to ground handler Alliance Ground International (AGI) to expand outside of North America.

“I am delighted and honored to join the impressive audience of TIACA Hall of Fame. The last 40 years in our industry have been a great experience and more importantly the pleasure to encounter so many great and truthful cargo people. I look to modestly continue to contribute to this industry which is now going through major and interesting changes. Thanks again to TIACA for granting me this prestigious award,” said Bijaoui.
Sebastiaan Scholte, Chair of TIACA’s Chairman’s Council, noted: “The impact both of these industry pioneers have made on our industry is truly impressive and I am honored to have had the privilege of formally inducting them into the Hall of Fame.”