Air France KLM will roll out its new airside temperature-controlled transporters in Los Angeles and Mexico.
The Franco-Dutch airline has developed the new Kold Kart transporters to try and solve the issue of temperature fluctuations during ramp handling operations.
Forwarders and shippers have long complained that their sensitive pharmaceutical shipments face temperature spikes when being loaded and unloaded.
Air France KLM said: “When it comes to carrying temperature sensitive cargo — whether perishables or pharmaceuticals products — keeping the entire logistic chain of transport at the right cool temperature, required both by the shippers and by the products constraints, is a must for our group of airlines whose permanent concern is to provide the adequate solution expected by its customers.
“This is all the more true for locations — such as Mexico for instance — where high temperatures are experienced on a regular basis and where the ramp operations are quite distant from the warehouse.”
A company spokesperson said Los Angeles and Mexico would be the first locations to receive the Kool Karts but added that the airline will “consider progressively” if they are also needed in other stations.
Last year, Brussels Airport launched its own airside pharma transporter. Qatar Airways senior manager cargo products David Beecham said it had avoided this problem by using temperature controlled vehicles to take cargo directly to and from the loading ramp. This meant perishable cargo would be exposed for as little as 40 seconds.
