Ground handler Cathay Pacific Services Limited (CPSL) has added a new pharma handling facility at its Hong Kong hub.
The facility, which has been built to IATA CEIV standards, is located at the Cathay Pacific Cargo Terminal and offers a fully temperature-controlled area of over 1,250 sq m for the handling of pharmaceutical products.
It is capable of processing 235,000 tonnes of pharmaceuticals per year, doubling the Cathay Pacific Cargo Terminal’s existing cold storage area and capacity, and is the largest dedicated pharma handling centre of any Hong Kong-based air cargo terminal, the company said.
The centre features real-time temperature monitoring, a temperature-controlled truck dock shelter, multiple container charging points, non-o-zone depleting HFC refrigerants, high thermal insulation panels and inflatable dock shelters.
CPSL also has a 1,250 sq m multi-temperature-zone cold room, a perishable handling centre for immediate perishable handling, thermal dollies for transfers between aircraft and terminal as well as its internet of things (IoT) enabled MobiFresh solution.
Mark Watts, CPSL chief operating officer, said: “Our investment in the new Pharma Handling Centre demonstrates our commitment to continuous improvement, ensuring that we can provide fast and dependable handling for the growing pharma market for many years to come.”
Tom Owen, CPSL chairman, added: “This supports CPSL’s vision to become the world’s most customer-centric air cargo terminal operator and further strengthens the status of Hong Kong as a leading international aviation hub for temperature-controlled shipments.”
Cathay Pacific Cargo Terminal handled 1.4m tonnes in 2021, a 4% increase over 2020, and will celebrate 10 years in business at Hong Kong International Airport in 2023.
