AirBridgeCargo Airlines and Shanghai Pudong International Airport Cargo Terminal Co., Ltd. have signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in time- and temperature-sensitive shipments, primarily focusing on pharmaceutical and healthcare products.

According to the two companies, the agreement will serve as a commitment by both parties to develop, expand and promote business cooperation in this sector, and corresponds to the strategic cooperation agreement between ABC and the Shanghai Airport Authority signed in September 2017.

“The pharmaceutical sector sets the high level of expectations for all supply chain stakeholders,” said Sergey Lazarev, general director of AirBridgeCargo. “Understanding the need for high-end services our customers expect us to provide, we work with forward-thinking and trustworthy partners. We are proud to have PACTL among our strategic partners, sharing the same values and business prospects towards the development of the pharmaceutical sector.”

The MoU focuses on the enhancement of operations for pharmaceutical shipments by optimizing internal procedures, strengthening personnel skills and leveraging innovative IT technologies to deliver the best customer experience and achieve the optimum benefit to support the well-being of end-user patients around the world. Both ABC and PACTL have been awarded the Center of Excellence for Independent Validators in Pharmaceutical Logistics certification by the International Air Transport Association.

“Now is the right time to collaborate with AirBridgeCargo,” said Christian Haug, vice president of PACTL. “PACTL’s IATA CEIV has been granted since the very beginning of 2016 and the PACTL Cool Center is the newest contribution to cool chain infrastructure for all temperature sensitive goods in PVG. The facility is about 3,500m² and with the capacity to handle 100,000 tonnes annually. Meanwhile, PACTL provides integrated, qualified, and reliable cool centre solutions, and advocates eco-friendly concepts to improve the customer values. There’s no doubt that PACTL will assist AirBridgeCargo to coordinate with all parties for TTSP shipment handling and storage.”

Shanghai was one of ABC’s first online stations in China and is now served by the airline’s Boeing 747 freighters more than 20 times every week.