Company History

Making the impossible routine since 1991

From a single freight office to a global air carrier flying into more than 400 airports worldwide, this is how National became the partner clients call when speed, complexity, and trust all matter at once.

Eyebrow Label

The story So Far

Built for the missions no one else will take on

National started small. In 1991, Chris and Lori Alf opened a regional freight forwarder in Buffalo, NY, moving small shipments on the next flight out. The ambition was never small, though. We built the company from the ground up on the hardest jobs in the business, and that work took us to somewhere few logistics companies ever reach. We became our own airline and global airfreight forwarder. Today we don’t move small boxes. We move millions of tons of cargo on aircraft we own and crew ourselves.

Today, our two divisions work in lockstep. The cargo side runs global fulfillment. The airline side flies the missions. Neither steps on the other. Both deliver.

What keeps us going is the same thing that got us here. We make the unplanned look planned. The sudden, specialized, complex jobs that scheduled carriers can’t touch. Mission-critical cargo. Humanitarian response. Pharmaceutical cold chain. Aerospace components. Charter flights for teams, crews, and military missions that don’t know where they’re headed next week.

Whatever the job, the bar stays the same. We’re only as good as our last shipment. Always have been. Always will be.

Our timeline

Firsts, fleets, and milestones

  • 1991: A business and a philosophy take flight

    Chris and Lori Alf found National Air Cargo Holdings, Inc. in the United States. One office. One promise. Move freight faster and smarter than the competition.

  • 1999: National goes global

    National Air Cargo, Inc. is established, along with a German operating subsidiary. The first step toward a global network run by regional experts.

  • 2003: Experts closer to every customer

    New operating companies launch in the Middle East and Malaysia, extending National’s reach across key global trade lanes.

  • A person in a military uniform

    2006: From forwarder to flag carrier

    National acquires Murray Air and relaunches it as National Airlines. The 360-degree service model begins.

  • A city skyline.

    2011: Mission-critical charter work

    National Airlines begins charter operations for Fluor Corp. between Dubai and Afghanistan, a sustained presence in one of the most complex logistics theaters on Earth.

  • A flight attendant preparing a drink for a passenger

    2014: A year of unlocked airspace

    The FAA grants ETOPS 180 approval in May, opening up longer over-water routes. In November, National Airlines earns certification to operate foreign scheduled passenger air services. Two approvals, one year, and a much bigger map.

  • 2015-2017: Cleared for more

    Blanket Open Skies Authority granted for cargo and passenger operations in 2015. Unlimited Hong Kong Economic Authority follows in October 2016. Unlimited China Zone 3 Economic Authority in 2017. Three consecutive years of regulatory wins, each one opening new trade lanes across Asia and beyond

  • 2016: IOSA certification from IATA

    The global gold standard for airline safety management.

  • A truck and an airplane.

    2018: Safety Management System approved by the FAA

    Formal SMS approval. The buttoned-up discipline our defense and commercial clients expect.

  • 2019: Three new B747-400 freighters join the fleet

    N729CA, N702CA, and N756CA enter service, significantly scaling cargo capacity.

  • 2020: A330-200 enters passenger service

    The arrival of N819CA brings new range and comfort to passenger charter operations.

  • 2021: Sixth 747 freighter, and a new hub

    N936CA joins the freighter fleet. In the same month, a new office opens in Chicago, deepening U.S. operational coverage.

  • 2022: Two more 747 freighters

    N663CA (B747-400 Extended Range Freighter) joins in September. N537CA (B747-400 Factory-Built Freighter) follows in October, bringing the cargo fleet to eight.

  • 2022-2025: Four CEIV certifications

    The IATA Center of Excellence for Independent Validators certifications arrive in sequence. Pharma in February 2022. Live Animals in March 2024. Lithium Batteries in Aug 2024. Fresh in May 2025. Each one a separate specialist clearance. Together, a portfolio that many carriers can’t match.

  • 2024: The biggest expansion year yet

    In July, four new Boeing 777 Freighters are ordered, and a new office opens in Houston. In October, the ninth 747 freighter (N569CA) enters service, joined by two A330-200 passenger aircraft (N828CA and N898CA). One year, four aircraft decisions, and a new hub.

  • 2025: A record year on every axis

    The A330-300 (N873CA) joins the passenger fleet in June. Global workforce surpasses 1,000. Charter operations reach more than 400 airports worldwide, a company record.

  • December 2025: First U.S. carrier certified IATA IEnvA

    National becomes the first U.S. carrier to achieve IATA’s Environmental Assessment certification, a new standard for sustainable airline operations.

  • Spring 2026: The 777 era begins

    The first Boeing 777-200 Freighter is delivered directly from Boeing in April. The second follows in May. The start of National’s most significant fleet modernization to date.