Singapore Airlines (SIA) Cargo has broadened its range of transportation solutions for pharmaceutical cargo by expanding its network of THRUCOOL quality corridors and signing a lease agreement with Skycell, a leading temperature-controlled container solution provider.
SIA Cargo launched THRUCOOL in September 2018 as a cold chain service to transport high-value, time-sensitive and temperature-controlled pharmaceutical cargo with speed and reliability. The launch coincided with the introduction of a ‘quality corridor’ along the Zurich-Singapore-Sydney route, with strict end-to-end temperature control for the handling and transportation of temperature-sensitive goods. By complying with standards adopted from the IATA CEIV Pharma[1]programme, the quality corridor addresses the industry’s need for safety, care and efficiency in the transportation of pharmaceutical products.
From 13 June 2019, SIA Cargo will add Amsterdam and Ho Chi Minh City to its quality corridor network. With these additions, customers will have the option of using THRUCOOL to transport pharmaceutical products from Amsterdam or Zurich to Ho Chi Minh City or Sydney via Singapore, with assurance of maximum attention to product integrity at each step of the journey. Looking ahead, SIA Cargo will continue to collaborate with industry partners to expand its quality corridor network across key trade lanes, with several more locations planned for inclusion in the network in the coming months.
As a further demonstration of its commitment to quality pharmaceutical transportation, SIA Cargo signed a three-year agreement with SkyCell for the leasing of specialised temperature-controlled containers, effective 1 May 2019.
The Swiss-made containers are designed to maintain pharmaceutical products between two to eight degrees Celsius or 15 to 25 degrees Celsius, even under extreme ambient temperatures. Cutting-edge patented insulation helps to reflect radiation and minimise heat conduction, while cooling technology that stores five times more energy than traditional methods ensures that each container is kept at a steady temperature. The containers are all equipped with IoT sensors which connect to a data cloud for quality monitoring.
SIA Senior Vice President Cargo, Mr Chin Yau Seng, said, “The expansion of our network of THRUCOOL quality corridors and our new lease partnership with SkyCell further underline our commitment to providing quality-assured dedicated cold chain services when transporting time- and temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical shipments. We will continue to expand and strengthen our service offerings, as well as collaborate with our industry partners to pursue innovation in the transportation of pharmaceuticals.”
“Singapore Airlines is the leading airline in Asia Pacific with a specialised pharma offering and an extensive network. The collaboration will meet the growing demand for reliable and safe pharmaceutical transportation solutions in the Asia-Pacific region and contribute to eliminating temperature excursions for shipments to emerging markets,” said Richard Ettl, CEO of SkyCell.
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