Hong Kong’s Cathay Cargo extends services to cover land shipping for Greater Bay Area
Analyst says first-of-its-kind operation will help cargo arm of Cathay Pacific fend off competition amid worsening geopolitics
Cathay Cargo has extended its services to include sending overseas perishable food and produce flown into Hong Kong to Greater Bay Area (GBA) clients by land, with an analyst saying the first-of-its-kind operation will fend off competition amid worsening geopolitics.
The cargo arm of local flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways said it was the first airline to provide such services under a cross-border policy called the “Air-Land Fresh Lane” that expedited the transshipment of fruits as well as live and chilled seafood from overseas to China.
The service was possible due to various mainland Chinese and city authorities agreeing to streamline import procedures.
In August, Cathay Cargo chartered a fleet of temperature-controlled trucks that ferried fresh seafood and produce such as live lobsters from Melbourne and live geoducks from Los Angeles.
As part of the extended services, a truck fleet equipped with GPS tracking devices travels from Hong Kong airport to Greater Bay Area cities via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge under the same order to fly in the goods, or “air waybill”.
“The new Air-Land Fresh Lane is great news for shippers looking to send premium perishable products into the heart of the GBA,” said James Evans, Cathay Cargo’s general manager for cargo commercial.
