Changi Airport and the Singapore air cargo community plan to acquire certification in handling perishable cargo, which will make it the first community in Southeast Asia to do so, according to Changi Airport Group (CAG).
CAG, together with the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, Enterprise Singapore, and Workforce Singapore, will be supporting the air cargo community in pursuing certification of International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators for Perishable Logistics (CEIV Fresh), said CAG in a statement.
“The four parties will co-fund certification costs, with the aim to strengthen Changi’s capabilities in the handling of perishable cargo,” it added.
SAAA@Singapore is the program manager for the CEIV Fresh certification process, while dnata Singapore and Singapore Airlines will be pioneer members of the undertaking.
The community is the first in Southeast Asia to undergo the CEIV Fresh certification, CAG added.
SATS, the chief ground-handling and in-flight catering service provider at Changi Airport, will also pursue the CEIV Fresh certification for their network, to complete by April 2020.
“The enhancement of the community’s perishables handling capabilities will instill greater confidence in shippers to use Changi Airport as a preferred hub for their time and temperature-sensitive shipments,” said CAG.
Perishable cargo represents about 13% (by volume) of Changi’s total air exports and imports, and is one of the key drivers of Changi’s cargo throughout with resilient growth for the last few years. The top cargo markets for perishables to and from Changi are Australia, Norway and India.