Turkish Cargo says it using its “geographic and network advantage” to make several investments to improve its pharmaceutical services.
The carrier tells Air Cargo Week (ACW) the transportation of pharma is “highly important both due to humanitarian and commercial reasons”.
The airline explains the yields that moving pharma brings is higher than general cargo and why it is further expanding its pharma capabilities.
Istanbul, where its main hub is located, is in a prime position to provide rapid connection between the pharmaceutical producers and consumers.
Turkish Cargo explains to ACW: “We are growing our TempControl business in a variety of ways: expanding our network, offering new product options, making new containers available and enhancing the efficiency of our operational processes and our customer service.”
The Turkish carrier opened a new cargo facility in January 2015 at Istanbul Ataturk Airport, which has an annual tonnage of 1.2 million tonnes and is now handling an increasing amount of pharma through specialist temperature-controlled facilities. The facility covers a total space is 67,000 square metres.
“We handle temperature sensitive products in temperature controlled areas in our warehouse according to branded Pharma Program and Warehouse Storage Instruction.
“We provide some special equipments like thermal blankets using with cooler blocks, we can provide ACT containers and accept shipments in containers if shipper or forwarder demands so. In case of delay or any irregularity we provide dry ice supplementation service,” the carrier explains.
Turkish Cargo’s services include remote temperature and humidity tracking using smart sensors, ability to report the shipments stored within time range at specific cool storage, temperature and humidity values of cold chain storage areas. Facilities are monitored through an automated system called Telemetry.
The carrier says it has further improved its handling capability of pharma cargo to make the process transparent, reliable, and temperature-controlled. “We standardised and aligned the pharma handling process. We already have a tracking system on our website and capability of remote temperature and humidity tracking using smart sensors.”
Turkish cargo recently inaugurated a new 3,000 square metre special cargo storage area and now has 39 separate special cargo rooms. The carrier has signed agreements with temperature controlled container providers and is planning to provide ACT for customers especially for freighter destinations in 2015.
The airline says it is also planning to launch new products for pharma cargo shipments this year.
