China Southern Airlines has approved Envirotainer's Releye RLP temperature-controlled pharma container for use across its network.

The unit uses rechargeable batteries, with a single battery charge able to power the system for over 170 hours.

It also offers live monitoring for product condition, location, temperature, humidity, battery levels, door openings, if cargo is loaded or not and the progress of shipments.

It fits three Euro pallets (or two US pallets), filling a gap between the larger RAP and smaller RKN-size containers to enable mixing and matching of pallet sizes.

Charlotte Huang, deputy director of sales department at China Southern Air Logistics, commented: “We are excited to be the first mainland China carrier to approve the Releye RLP container.

“The container sets a new standard for secure cold chain transport at a time when Covid-19 vaccine and other temperature-controlled medicines are being shipped around the world.

“With its advanced technology in long battery life, track and trace device and environmentally-friendly designs, this groundbreaking container will undeniably promote mutual cooperation between Envirotainer and China Southern Airlines in every shipment of temperature-sensitive pharma.”

Don Harrison, head of global key accounts, airlines at Envirotainer, added: “We are happy to welcome China Southern Airlines as the latest carrier of our newest innovation, the Envirotainer Releye RLP container.

“We will provide China Southern Airlines with the Releye RLP container so that they can further broaden their portfolio of high-quality temperature-controlled solutions.”