Air India SATS Airport Services Pvt. Ltd. (AISATS), India’s
premier airport services company, commenced trial operations of India’s first
integrated on-airport perishable cargo handling centre, “AISATS COOLPORT, at
the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (KIAB). The state-of-the-art,
11,000 sq. meter facility will meet the ever-increasing demands and handling
requirements of temperature-sensitive cargo and will further enhance the State
of Karnataka’s status as the pharmaceutical and perishables hub of India.
AISATS COOLPORT, with a handling capacity
of 40,000 tons per annum, will cater to an extensive range of perishable
commodities such as pharmaceutical products, fruits, vegetables, poultry, sea
food and flowers. It is customized
to offer the most comprehensive cold storage solutions with 17 dedicated cold rooms
with adjustable temperatures ranging from – 25OC to + 25OC.
Designed as a “One Stop Shop” to facilitate the Import and Export processes of
the air cargo industry, the
integrated facility will house a state-of-the-art Drug Controller lab as well
as a Plant Quarantine Inspection & Certification office. It will be
supplemented by temperature controlled queue lanes for unitized shipments and
Cool Trollies to ensure integrity of the cool chain from AISATS COOLPORT to the
aircraft and vice versa.
In recent years, Bengaluru has witnessed a
steady increase in perishable cargo volume, with a CAGR of 15%. With
this new facility, AISATS aims to be a key player in promoting an efficient,
safe and secure cool chain handling for temperature sensitive products.
Speaking on this occasion, Mike
Chew, CEO, AISATS said, “The Indian economy is on a high trajectory of
growth and requires upgraded infrastructure facilities in the logistics space
to cater to the growing needs of the trade and the air cargo industry. Keeping
in view the significance of Air Cargo to the economic growth of the country, we
truly believe that this dedicated state-of-the-art facility will play a vital
role in supporting better trade facilitation, and will further boost the
exports & imports of temperature sensitive products. AISATS COOLPORT at Kempegowda
International Airport aims to bolster the Government of Karnataka’s vision of
turning the state into a preferred air cargo hub of South India.”
“Today, I congratulate AISATS on the trial
operations of the new integrated Perishable Handling Center at KIAB, a first
for any airport in the country. As we move towards becoming the preferred cargo
hub in southern India, it is imperative for such specialized facilities to
cater to the burgeoning perishable cargo demand of this region. South India
with its established presence in the global logistics network has the potential
to create the necessary fillip towards the development of air cargo in India.
As an airport that is strategically positioned at the heart of South India, we
have the opportunity to take advantage of this momentum and be the single
gateway for cargo traffic and shippers aspiring to reach this fast-growing
region. We firmly believe new logistics that redefine the cargo business will
propel us closer to our vision of being the Cargo Gateway to South India,” said Hari
Marar, President, Airport Operations, BIAL
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