In an conversation with Aviation World, Saurabh Doshi,Vice President, Asia Pacific, Sterling, A Kuehne+Nagel Company shares an AOG Logistics view on shifting from firefighting to resilience, trust-led execution.
Q: Why Trust matters in the world of Aviation Logistics?
SD: Trust doesn’t emerge by accident. It is a conscious choice and a leadership mindset. One that prioritizes speed, reliability, and visibility over short term optics or transactional decision making. In complex global environments, especially in aviation logistics, trust becomes the difference between reacting to disruption and staying ahead of it.In AOG (Aircraft on Ground) logistics, trust isn’t a “nice to have.” It’s an operational requirement.When an aircraft is grounded, every minute translates into cost, disruption, and reputational impact.
In such high stakes’ situations, customers depend not just on our solutions but on the certainty that we move fast, we communicate transparently and we deliver no matter the shifting dynamics around us. I spend a significant amount of time with our incredibly talented teams at Sterling’s 24/7 Control Towers, where the true value of trust is visible every day. It’s where decisions move fast, informationflows without friction, and disruptions are managed before they escalate.In these dynamic environments, trust is what enables teams to operate with clarity, confidence, and precision. It empowers people to make the right calls, collaborate seamlessly, and maintain resilience even when the unexpected becomes the norm.Ultimately, trust is the backbone of aviation logistics.It accelerates decisions, strengthens partnerships, and ensures that even in moments of disruption, we keep the world flying.
Q: How Critical Are Speed, Reliability & Visibility in AOG Logistics? Especially in an Era of Disruption?
SD:Since the post pandemic period, we’ve seen that volatility is now structural, and uncertainty is the new normal. Supply chains must be designed for disruption rather than stability. Speed, reliability, and visibility are mission critical pillars of AOG logistics. Speed ensures the aircraft gets back where it belongs, in the sky, with minimum downtime.Reliability ensures consistent, agile execution even when networks are stressed, and global supply chains face ongoing disruption.Visibility enables proactive avoidance of delays and faster decisions for reduced operational impact and more predictability in supply chains.
Q:How Sterling Creates a Difference in AOG Logistics through its three critical pillars?
SD:Sterling is truly an aerospace company that provides logistics solutions. Our core offering is built around three layers that map directly with speed, reliability,and visibility.Global Control Towers that work 24/7 offer fast and secure shipping for AOG situations.
These are highly trained professionals who execute with speed and precision.The operational hubs that Sterling has strategically built close to global OEM locations, give it full control of first and last mile logistics which significantly improves overall turnaround. It brings more reliability to our offering.Furthermore, in a world of structural volatility, exception management becomes a core differentiator. Sterling excels here through real time visibility, proactive communication, and minimizing operational impact.
Q: What is Sterling’s growth strategy in Asia Pacific?
SD:Sterling’s growth strategy in the Asia Pacific region is centered on trust‑led growth, built through strategic investments in maintaining deep customer proximity and strengthening critical operational infrastructure, such as the APAC control tower, to deliver globally consistent, high‑reliability AOG logistics solutions to our customers.
Q:What’s your take on impact of current disruptions in West Asia on Aviation Logistics?
SD:Traditional supply chains optimized for cost and predictability are once again being stress-tested. In the short term, it may need navigating through disruptions but going forward, the industry must rethink and redesign logistics networks to be: more flexible rather than rigid, more diversified in routing options and hubs, better aligned with risk and exception handling capabilities, and digitally transparent with predictive visibility to enable quicker pivots.
For aviation and aerospace customers, the message is clear: resilience is no longer optional; it is strategic. Keeping aircraft flying, fleets maintained, and supply chains moving is critical.
Recent developments in the Middle East have resulted in closed or limited airspace in multiple countries in the region. As a result, global carriers have cancelled flights to/from impacted countries in the region and Middle Eastern carriers have suspended many flights which is directly impacting air cargo operations.
That being said, we are seeing operations beginning to resume in the UAE and Qatar, moving from 22% of global capacity being grounded in the first days to around 10% now. Saudi Arabian and Omani airspace are fully open.
On the Asia-Europe trade lane, there is increased transit times due to airspace closures. This is causing reduced payload on board aircraft. We have seen carriers add additional direct capacity on the Asia-Europe trade. We do not see any major impact on trans-Pacific trades.
Sterling is continuing to closely monitor the situation and working with our partners to support customers, maintain service continuity, and minimize where possible any potential impact on shipments.
