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dual honour in the same year, says Penza.
"IATA CEIV Fresh certification demon-
strates strict compliance with Perishable
Cargo Regulations (PCR). In addition to cov-
ering Etihad Cargo’s airline operations, CEIV
Fresh Certification also extends to cargo
handling and warehousing at Abu Dhabi
International Airport (AUH) and gives our
customers confidence that Etihad Cargo’s
commercial activities and operations adhere
to the highest industry standards and they
can trust that Etihad Cargo’s FreshForward
product provides the fresh, fast, simple and
efficient features they need from their air
cargo partner of choice.
"Operations in our expanded facility will
continue to adhere to CEIV Fresh require-
ments and stringent food safety manage-
tions at BLR Cargo, along with the great ment protocols with Hazard Analysis Critical
support we get from our partners makes Control Point (HACCP) methodology. Every
us the preferred choice for perishable ship- member of Etihad Cargo’s team follows
ments in India. As a result, growers/shippers strict protocols to control the temperature
from neighbouring states prefer BLR Airport of perishables shipments. Additionally, all
to transport their produce." of Etihad Cargo’s cool rooms are equipped
BIAL recorded 52,366 metric tonnes of with alarmed temperature-monitoring
perishable shipments in FY 2021-22 com- systems and are calibrated every 12 months.
pared to the previous year’s 48,130 tonnes, Perishables Every critical point throughout the per-
an increase of 9 percent. 41 percent of account for close to ishables’ journey is temperature checked,
South India’s perishable air cargo tonnage is and the results are recorded in Abu Dhabi,
currently handled by BLR Airport, making it 19 percent of cargo offering our clients full transparency and
the leading airport for perishables in India. traceability of shipments."
Fruits and vegetables, along with the ex- transported on our Moreno of QR Cargo says the airline
port of poultry and flowers, have been ma- freighters and 17 complies with IATA’s Perishable Cargo
jor segments driving growth,according to Regulations, which lay out the standard
an official release. 36,493 tonnes of poultry percent on belly-hold operating procedures for the acceptance
and 1,952 tonnes of flowers were exported and handling of all perishable products.
from BLR Airport in FY22. Doha emerged as flights. "We are members of the logistics quality
the leading destination followed by Singa- Miguel Rodriguez Moreno assessment platform, Validaide, the Cool
pore, London and Male. A total of 33 cargo Qatar Airways Cargo Chain Association, and IATA, which means
freighter airlines transported perishable that we are in regular contact with experts
shipments from BLR Airport to 85 interna- Manager Cargo, Climate Control Products, and the markets, we continuously adapt
tional destinations in FY22. Qatar Airways Cargo. "This next genera- our products to best match the changing
BLR Cargo has a combined cold chain ca- tion of products, which includes our Fresh requirements.
pacity of ~60,000 tonnes per annum across product, will feature digitisation projects, "We are working on the IATA CEIV Fresh
both our terminals i.e., AISATS Coolport and new service categories, new equipment process and will follow it starting with
MABB Cold zone, says Raghunath. "Before (reefer trucks), infrastructure (Import/Export the training of all the staff involved in the
we operationalised these dedicated capaci- terminal) and consumables (thermal blan- management of perishable goods. We will
ties, we had an approved capacity of 10,000 kets) being deployed to strengthen our cool further carry out an initial assessment to
tonnes across both terminals." chain solutions. More exciting news will be identify any shortcomings before the final
Qatar Airways Cargo, for example with announced in due course." validation to obtain the certification."
its offering of QR Cargo Fresh, has been Understanding that technology is the
working on product development initiatives IATA CEIV Fresh Program, tech- key to success in a competitive envi-
and how to best support our customers. nology & progress ronment, Bengaluru Airport has been
"The Next Generation, which we recently Etihad Cargo became the first Middle East investing in digital infrastructure to meet
launched, is accompanied by a review of airline in 2019 to hold both IATA CEIV Fresh the latest industry standards. "BLR Cargo
our products to better meet new demands," and Pharma certifications, and one of only partnered with Kale logistics to equip itself
says Miguel Rodriguez Moreno, Senior two carriers globally to have achieved this with an Airport Cargo Community System
6 | NOVEMBER 2022 www.stattimes.com