After three decades with FedEx, UAE entrepreneur launches airline

Dubai: From washing trucks for the world’s largest express transportation company to becoming the Senior Vice President, where he was responsible for 51,000 employees, 132 countries, and 200 aircraft across Europe, the Middle East, the Indian Sub-Continent, and Africa, Hamdi Osman has had a very long and illustrious career with FedEx.

However, after 34 years of service to the company, retirement was the last thing on the mind of UAE entrepreneurs and long-term Dubai resident Osman.

Two years ago, Osman launched UAE’s first cargo-only airline – SolitAir.

As Founder and CEO of SolitAir Cargo Airline, Osman set out to revolutionise air cargo logistics with a fast, reliable B2B model addressing first-mile and last-mile challenges in the AMEISC region.

“By connecting over 50 cities within a 6-hour radius of UAE, our vision is to become the leading digital, daily scheduled, time-sensitive, express middle mile airline transportation company, meeting 12-24-hour connectivity needs,” said Osman.
In December last year, the Dubai-based air cargo carrier announced the inauguration of its first daily scheduled flights between Dubai and Riyadh. “And as of the end of January, we announced operations five days a week to Riyadh, three days to Dhaka, and two days to Hong Kong from Dhaka, running a daily express cargo schedule,” explained Osman.
SolitAir fleet
Between Dubai World Central (DWC) and Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport (RUH), the service collectively handles 1.2 million tonnes of air freight annually. It is operated by one of two SolitAir’s narrow-body Boeing 737-800 freighters, with a capacity of 23 tonnes.
Another Boeing 737-800 freighter joined the fleet in January of this year, enabling the company’s immediate expansion plans, which include routes to India and Bangladesh, key markets across Africa, and other Middle Eastern hubs.

“Eventually, SolitAir aims to connect over 50 Global South cities within a six-hour flying radius from Dubai,” he stated. The carrier raised $35.5 million in the first round of funding. “The second round is going to be $40 million. And we would use this to invest in expansion into Saudi and Africa over two years,” he said.

From a truck washer to President
The Egyptian national’s journey began when he moved to America to pursue his dreams of playing professional football after earning a degree in Physical Education in the ’60s and ’70s. Shortly after, he ended up washing trucks for FedEx.
“I did such a great job that they kept me in that role for six months before I moved up to working on the ramp and other areas. Then came my big break—I met the Chairman of FedEx while I was washing trucks,” said Osman.

“He asked me a few questions, and I told him, “Do you understand me while I’m talking?” He said yes. So, I asked, “Do you think I would have a problem driving a truck? I want to be a driver. Right now, I make only $2 an hour, but a driver makes $4 an hour,” he stated.
“He told me, “The best people in life speak with an accent because people pay attention to them.” He believed in me, and he was right. Later, I became a driver and then moved up the ranks. I worked my way from the ground level all the way to the boardroom,” said Osman.

Over time, Osman moved up from Managing Director to Vice President and finally to Senior Vice President—equivalent to a CEO role—overseeing Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent. “I retired after 34 years in 2012, he said.

Investor dreams
During this time, Osman co-founded Innoventures Education, establishing schools like DIA. “I also became an angel investor in startups. In 2019, I won “Investor of the Year.”
Through these ventures, I met George in 2017. Then the pandemic hit, and I started receiving calls from friends in the airline industry asking for help. Initially, I resisted—I thought I was done with aviation. But aviation is in my blood.,” he stated.

Osman’s first aviation venture was in India in the 1990s when he helped launch Blue Dart Express, which later became Blue Dart Aviation.

“We revolutionised air cargo in India, ensuring faster deliveries. In 1995, I established Falcon Express Cargo Airlines in the Middle East, handling regional FedEx operations,” he said.
These experiences laid the foundation for Osman’s continued work in aviation. Now, with SolitAir, he said he remains focused on bringing innovation and efficiency to the industry once again.

Cargo boom
According to the International Air Transport Authority (IATA), cargo revenues are expected to reach $157 billion (15.6 per cent of total revenues) in 2025. “Absolutely. Cargo was one of the few industries that thrived during the pandemic, and express cargo operations became even more crucial,” he said.

“Also, I have the best team in aviation. Out of my 60 employees, 48 have an aviation background,” Osman said.Osman commented on competition and said SolitAir’s customer base is ‘everyone’. “FedEx, UPS, DHL, Amazon (air and e-commerce), and commercial airlines. We don’t discriminate; we collaborate.

In the express industry, we have partnerships with top integrators. My partners are the best in the industry, and we support each other,” said Osman.

Citing an example, Osman said, “Emirates has 12 wide-body aircraft operating globally. However, suppose they need to send an urgent shipment to Riyadh. In that case, they face two issues: they don’t have narrow-body aircraft, and belly capacity might be limited. We fill that gap,” he explained.
Last week, SolitAir selected OASES – an aviation Maintenance & Engineering (M&E) software – as their first MRO software provider. The signing ceremony took place at the Aviation Week MRO APAC Conference in Dubai on February 11, with Paul Lynch, Group Managing Director of OASES and Osman.