2005 Hall of Fame Recipient

Richard Malkin - Air Cargo Journalist and Author

Richard Malkin was inducted into the TIACA 2005 Hall of Fame in recognition of his role as the world’s first air cargo journalist, as the author of five books on the subject, including the first air cargo textbook and the first air cargo history, and as a tireless proponent of the benefits of air cargo through his numerous articles, interviews and lectures.

Mr. Malkin has been the pre-eminent chronicler of the air cargo industry since 1942 when he covered the launch of the first transcontinental all-cargo service by American Airlines. The following year he became editor of the world’s first and only air cargo periodical, Air Transportation. He remained editor, and later associate publisher, of that publication (which underwent several name changes) for 35 years until his mandatory retirement at age 65. He then started a new career as air cargo columnist for The Journal of Commerce where he stayed for 13 years until he resigned to become the editor of CNS Focus and, concurrently, air cargo editor of Distribution.

He has logged more than three million miles in his quest for stories over the past 63 years, and has interviewed hundreds of cargo officials at airlines, freight forwarders, and airports. He has traveled to any spot in the world where air cargo has made news, including Germany in 1948 and 1949 where he covered the Berlin Airlift, an event that demonstrated the immense value of air cargo. His articles have appeared in Business Week, Forbes, Newsweek International and The New York Times Magazine.

His books include Air Freight Transportation, a text book on air cargo, and Boxcars in the Sky, which won the aviation literature prize. His writing has not been confined only to air cargo. In 1948 he was one of ten winners of the O. Henry Prize for short story writing. He vows to return to fiction writing when his busy schedule permits.

Through the pioneering journalism achievements of Richard Malkin, the world has become better informed of the importance of air cargo, not only in international trade and commerce, but in the daily life of the individual.