Cargo airline Ameriflight, based at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, hired former Southwest Airlines executive David Harvey as its president and CEO.

Harvey steps into roles formerly held by Patrick Fluegeman. Fluegeman’s LinkedIn profile shows he left Ameriflight in July to become chief operating officer at Endeavor Air.

“David brings the combination of aviation expertise, commercial discipline, and leadership experience we believe will help Ameriflight build on its strong foundation and accelerate its next chapter of growth,” Ameriflight Chairman Jim Martell said in a statement.

Ameriflight said it’s the nation’s largest Part 135 cargo airline. A Part 135 certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration lets an airline operate small aircraft for unscheduled, on-demand cargo and passenger service.

Decades of experience

Most recently, Harvey was an executive adviser for airlines, travel technology companies and large organizations. He developed business, sales, distribution and AI strategies for clients, Ameriflight said.

He previously was chief commercial officer at private aviation company Wheels Up. There, he led marketing, sales, pricing and revenue management functions.

Before that, Harvey spent more than two decades at Dallas-based Southwest Airlines, including his final job as chief sales officer. Earlier, he held leadership roles in corporate strategy, network planning, commercial performance and technology. Harvey helped coordinate the integration of AirTran Airways after Southwest acquired it in 2011.

Now, Harvey will put that experience to use at Ameriflight.

“Ameriflight has built a remarkable business with an experienced team, a strong operating platform and an important role serving customers across the aviation and logistics industries,” Harvey said.

About Ameriflight

Founded in 1968, Ameriflight employs more than 500 people, including 150 pilots, and operates more than 100 aircraft. The airline serves the U.S., where it maintains 11 bases, as well as Canada, Mexico and South America.

With more than 750 weekly departures, the company provides feeder services for express carriers such as UPS and DHL. It also offers cargo charter services, shipping everything from regular packages and live animals to aircraft parts and medical supplies.

Ameriflight said in May 2023 that it gained permission from the FAA to operate delivery drones. However, the airline’s website doesn’t list drone delivery service among its current offerings.

“We have a tremendous opportunity ahead of us to grow the business while continuing to deliver the safety, reliability and service our customers depend on,” Harvey said.