Air India
SATS Airport Services Pvt. Ltd. (AISATS), India’s premier airport services
company, launches “AISATS COOLPORT”, India’s first integrated on-airport
perishable cargo handling centre, at Kempegowda International Airport,
Bengaluru (KIAB). The 11,000 sq. meter state of the art facility built at a
total project cost of Rs 48 crores, was inaugurated by R.V. Deshpande, Minister
for Large and Medium Industries and Infrastructure Development, Government of
Karnataka.
In the past few years, Indian air cargo industry has seen tremendous demand for handling of perishable cargo products. The launch of AISATS COOLPORT will meet the extensive handling requirements of perishable cargo products such as pharmaceuticals, fruits, vegetables, flowers, meat and sea food, through its future ready infrastructure with capability to handle 40,000 tons per annum, customized cold storage solutions comprising of 17 dedicated cold rooms with temperature ranging from -25 to 250C, Refrigerated Queue Lanes with a temperature range of 2 to 80C for unitized shipments and end-to-end cold chain solutions including refrigerated trucking service, indigenously developed cool trolley and thermal blanket, as well as temperature controlled container handling.
Speaking on the momentous occasion, Mike Chew, CEO, AISATS said, “As India aims to become the world’s third largest aviation market by 2020, we believe that the cargo industry will play a crucial role in achieving this objective. India has aptly demonstrated the potential to maintain an upward growth trajectory year on year, despite a global slowdown. However, there is an immediate need to develop adequate infrastructure to boost the growth of the air cargo industry. We at AISATS developed the COOLPORT, with invaluable support from the Government of India’s ASIDE (Assistance to States for Infrastructure Development for Exports & Allied Activities) scheme. The COOLPORT addresses the need for specialised infrastructure amenities catering to cold-chain processes, operations and logistics and we at AISATS partner the Government of Karnataka’s vision of turning the Kempegowda International Airport into a preferred air cargo hub in Southern India.”
“We aim to be the engine of economic growth for the region by connecting Bengaluru to the world and positioning the city as the Gateway to South India not only for passenger traffic but also for cargo. BIAL has a robust plan and strategic intent to grow the cargo business. Our aim is to create an environment that enables our cargo partners to introduce new initiatives and facilities that cater to the burgeoning cargo demand of this region. We firmly believe new logistics that redefine the cargo business will propel us closer to our vision of being the Cargo Hub of South India and the region. I, congratulate AISATS on the inauguration of the Perishable Cargo Handling Centre. This is a validation of our partnership and commitment by both BIAL and our partners to continue to explore new ways for enhancing efficient and seamless cargo operations.” said Hari Marar, President, Airport Operations, Bengaluru International Airport Ltd.
The trial operations of the AISATS COOLPORT, from October 2016 through January 2017, witnessed a 27% growth in the perishable tonnage in comparison to the same period last year. During the tenure of the trial operations, 4,653 tonnes (import and export) of varied temperature sensitive and perishable cargo was effectively handled by the AISATS COOLPORT.
In the past few years, Indian air cargo industry has seen tremendous demand for handling of perishable cargo products. The launch of AISATS COOLPORT will meet the extensive handling requirements of perishable cargo products such as pharmaceuticals, fruits, vegetables, flowers, meat and sea food, through its future ready infrastructure with capability to handle 40,000 tons per annum, customized cold storage solutions comprising of 17 dedicated cold rooms with temperature ranging from -25 to 250C, Refrigerated Queue Lanes with a temperature range of 2 to 80C for unitized shipments and end-to-end cold chain solutions including refrigerated trucking service, indigenously developed cool trolley and thermal blanket, as well as temperature controlled container handling.
Speaking on the momentous occasion, Mike Chew, CEO, AISATS said, “As India aims to become the world’s third largest aviation market by 2020, we believe that the cargo industry will play a crucial role in achieving this objective. India has aptly demonstrated the potential to maintain an upward growth trajectory year on year, despite a global slowdown. However, there is an immediate need to develop adequate infrastructure to boost the growth of the air cargo industry. We at AISATS developed the COOLPORT, with invaluable support from the Government of India’s ASIDE (Assistance to States for Infrastructure Development for Exports & Allied Activities) scheme. The COOLPORT addresses the need for specialised infrastructure amenities catering to cold-chain processes, operations and logistics and we at AISATS partner the Government of Karnataka’s vision of turning the Kempegowda International Airport into a preferred air cargo hub in Southern India.”
“We aim to be the engine of economic growth for the region by connecting Bengaluru to the world and positioning the city as the Gateway to South India not only for passenger traffic but also for cargo. BIAL has a robust plan and strategic intent to grow the cargo business. Our aim is to create an environment that enables our cargo partners to introduce new initiatives and facilities that cater to the burgeoning cargo demand of this region. We firmly believe new logistics that redefine the cargo business will propel us closer to our vision of being the Cargo Hub of South India and the region. I, congratulate AISATS on the inauguration of the Perishable Cargo Handling Centre. This is a validation of our partnership and commitment by both BIAL and our partners to continue to explore new ways for enhancing efficient and seamless cargo operations.” said Hari Marar, President, Airport Operations, Bengaluru International Airport Ltd.
The trial operations of the AISATS COOLPORT, from October 2016 through January 2017, witnessed a 27% growth in the perishable tonnage in comparison to the same period last year. During the tenure of the trial operations, 4,653 tonnes (import and export) of varied temperature sensitive and perishable cargo was effectively handled by the AISATS COOLPORT.
Apart from being a specialised warehousing unit, AISATS COOLPORT is also a one-stop-shop comprising of customs clearances, state-of-the-art Drug Controller lab and Plant Quarantine Inspection & Certification office, to expedite the import and export procedures.
AISATS COOLPORT recently obtained its Good
Distribution Practices (GDP) certification for receiving, handling, storage and
dispatch of pharmaceutical and perishable cargo as per WHO standards. AISATS
also aims to achieve HACCP and IATA CEIV certifications in the near future,
which will promote better trade facilitation and enhance the State of
Karnataka’s position as pharmaceutical and perishable hub of India.
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