HKIA is the world’s first airport
community to have received IATA
CEIV Fresh certification
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FEATURE
Seamless cold chain handling
Backed by Hong Kong International Airport’s world-class facilities, shippers can rest
assured that their temperature-controlled goods will be handled seamlessly.
The ability to send
temperature-sensitive
cargo speedily and
safely has never been more
in demand. From shipping
perishable goods, like fresh
meat and vegetables, to
delivering potentially lifesaving
medications for those
in need, the air transport
industry is increasingly under
pressure to meet the evolving
requirements of customers and
regulators from all corners of
the globe.
It should come as no
surprise, then, that cold
chain transport is one of
the world’s fastest-growing
air cargo segments. Analysts
expect the Asia-Pacific region
to be a key driver for the
segment’s expansion, with
mainland China’s Greater Bay
Area likely to see some of the
fastest growth. To leverage its
geographic advantage, Hong
Kong International Airport
(HKIA), the world’s busiest
air cargo hub since 2010, is
continuously boosting its
capacity and capabilities to
handle temperature-controlled
goods and rapidly transforming
itself into one of the world’s top
cold chain hubs.
Equipped to succeed
Airport Authority Hong
Kong (AA) is committed
to helping shippers avoid
product damage and reduce
wastage during transit, while
preserving shelf life. The AA
has sought to achieve this by
investing in end-to-end cold
Kong cargo terminal operators, three ramp handling operators
and one home base carrier, achieved IATA Centre of Excellence
for Independent Validators (CEIV) in Pharmaceutical Logistics
certification in 2017, in recognition of their world-class offerings in
pharmaceutical product transport.
HKIA is also the first airport community in the world to
have received CEIV Fresh certification for excellence in the
transportation and handling of perishable cargoes. The airport was
recognised for offering efficient, dedicated facilities and services
that provide stringent temperature-controlled processes at globally
assured standards. In 2018, HKIA handled more than 380,000
tonnes of perishables, accounting for approximately 8% of the
airport’s total cargo volume and representing an increase of 12%
over the previous year.
As economies and living standards keep rising, demand for
high-end, premium temperature-controlled goods is expected
to increase as well. The AA says that it will continue to invest in
HKIA’s facilities and services to ensure that the airport remains one
of the most comprehensively equipped in the world for the safe
transport of pharmaceuticals and fresh products, and to help drive
the growth of the global cold chain industry.
chain handling, teaming with
operators across the Hong Kong
airport community to expertly
manage temperature-sensitive
goods, from the time an aircraft
lands to the point its cargo is
released at the terminal.
One example of this is apron
transport, a critical part of the
cold chain because it can be a
high-risk area for temperature
fluctuation. To mitigate this
risk, HKIA employs specialised
cool dollies as a flexible,
highly mobile means for
transporting perishable and
pharmaceutical shipments
on the ramp, offering a
consistent, temperaturecontrolled
environment from
the aircraft to the cool room.
In addition to the cool dolly
fleets of the airport’s cargo
terminal operators, the AA has
an additional 21 cool dollies
customised with built-in, realtime
temperature and location
tracking features that are
available for airlines to rent.
The AA is also constructing
apron shelters to protect
temperature-controlled
shipments from prolonged
exposure to the weather. These
shelters also provide electricity
supply to support cool dolly
operations during staging.
Globally certified
HKIA has been recognised by
the international air transport
community for its wideranging
efforts to achieve
excellence in cold chain
transport. The airport and its
partners, including three Hong
www.airlogisticsinternational.com April 2020 15
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