HKIA unveils Air-Land Fresh Lane to enhance cargo efficiency

Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) held a launch ceremony for the Air-Land Fresh Lane. More than 200 local and overseas partners from the air cargo and fresh produce sectors attended the ceremony and exchanged views, according to an official release from HKIA.

In April this year, the Guangdong and Hong Kong governments, in collaboration with HKIA, launched the trial service of the Air-Land Fresh Lane. By streamlining transshipment clearance procedures, a dedicated channel has been created for importing chilled aquatic products, live seafood, and fruits from overseas to the Greater Bay Area through HKIA, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. Live and chilled goods can be delivered to Zhuhai for Mainland’s customs clearance and enter the GBA in as quickly as three hours after they arrive at Hong Kong by air.

“AAHK has committed to enhancing connectivity with the GBA, to further extend HKIA’s efficient and premium cargo services to the region through novel intermodal cargo transshipments. The Air-Land Fresh Lane expands the catchment area of HKIA and helps Hong Kong’s trade and logistics industries in seizing new business opportunities in the Greater Bay Area and the Mainland, further strengthening HKIA's leading position in the air cargo industry,” says Vivian Cheung, CEO of AAHK.

Chan Tsz-tat, Commissioner of Customs and Excise, says, “By overcoming difficulties and resolving problems one by one, C&ED was able to align relevant regulations between Hong Kong and the Mainland, developing a new regulatory model to streamline the fresh food transshipment clearance. Following the full launch of the Air-Land Fresh Lane, C&ED would continue to deepen its co-operation with the Mainland to jointly promote the economic development of the Greater Bay Area.”

HKIA has been named the world’s busiest cargo airport for the 14th time since 2010. It is also the first airport globally to achieve the full suite of IATA CEIV certifications, including the IATA CEIV Fresh Certification, which recognises excellence in handling special cargo. Additionally, HKIA operates the largest fleet of cool dollies among all airports in Asia, and its cargo terminals are equipped with advanced cold chain facilities to maintain the freshness and safety of live and chilled goods during transit, the release added.