After 2015 growth, Air China Cargo enlists Envirotainer

For the first time, Envirotainer, a professional cold-chain company for the pharmaceutical industry, has partnered with an airline based in mainland China. Air China Cargo, the flag carrier of China – which achieved 15.2 percent growth in cargo traffic in 2015, compared to the previous year – plans to introduce a cold chain product this spring with further expansion planned throughout the year, based on demand.

The carrier plans to begin the program with stations in Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore, Frankfurt and Geneva in its first phase.

This new partnership is expected to directly benefit bio-pharma companies importing and exporting active pharmaceutical ingredients and other products in and out of China, the carrier said. Envirotainer already opened the station in Shanghai in November 2015 in order to support the cold-chain business with regard to pharmaceuticals. In the past year, Envirotainer has opened a new U.S. headquarters in New York and a new office in Singapore.

In 2015, Air China Cargo reported that it handled 6.6 billion freight tonne kilometers and took delivery of two 777-200 freighters. The new maindeck capacity increased the carrier’s all-cargo fleet to eight 777Fs, most of which serve routes to Europe and North America, and three 747-400Fs, which are used fro intra-regional sectors and charter activity. The carrier also operates four 757-200Fs that mostly provide domestic service for China Post.