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Singapore Airlines (SIA) has announced the launch of ‘Thrucool,’ a new service to transport high-value, time-sensitive and temperature-controlled pharmaceutical cargo with speed and reliability.
Dedicated Cold Chain
Thrucool offers dedicated cold chain services to safeguard the integrity of pharmaceutical and healthcare shipments during air transportation.
These include priority uplift and handling, quick ramp transfers at airports, cold room facilities, as well as thermal blankets and covers for crucial insulation from external factors.
Customers can also opt to place shipments in temperature-controlled containers, and track their location during shipping.
Reducing potential loss
To further preserve product integrity in cold chain handling both on the ground and in the air, SIA has partnered with leading terminal operators SATS, Cargologic and Qantas Freight to launch a ‘quality corridor’ along the Zurich-Singapore-Sydney route as an initial offering.
Complying with standards adopted from the IATA CEIV Pharma programme (subject to appropriate approvals), the quality corridor addresses the industry’s need for safety, care and efficiency in the transportation of pharmaceutical and healthcare products.
This reduces the potential for product loss attributed to handling and environmental factors such as temperature excursions during carriage.
The SIA Assurance
SIA Senior Vice President Cargo Chin Yau Seng said, “As the first airline in the Asia-Pacific region to be CEIV Pharma-certified, the launch of Thrucool reinforces our commitment to provide customers dedicated cold chain services when transporting time-and temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical shipments. We are acutely aware of the life-saving role these shipments play in societies across the world and Thrucool is our assurance that our customers’ cargo will receive the best care not only on our flights but also on the ground during transit. We will continue to collaborate with our industry partners to expand our network of quality corridors to further promote the integrity of pharmaceutical products in their journey across key trade lanes.”
World’s First
SIA was the first airline in the Asia-Pacific region to be awarded the IATA CEIV Pharma Certification and is part of international and regional CEIV communities such as Pharma@Changi, and Pharma.Aero, which jointly pursue innovation in the shipping of pharmaceuticals.
The CEIV Pharma certification imposes extensive standards that adhere to guidelines set under the European Union’s Good Distribution Practice, and World Health Organization Annex 5 Good Distribution Practices for Pharmaceutical Products.
SIA offers air cargo services to more than 130 destinations with the SIA Group’s modern passenger fleet of more than 190 aircraft, in addition to seven freighter aircraft.
Singapore Airlines in New Zealand
Singapore Airlines has serviced New Zealand for more than 40 years, and currently operates 18 weekly services from three cities to Singapore. Alongside its regional wing, SilkAir, and low-cost carrier Scoot, SIA provides access to a global network of 137 destinations in 37 countries and territories through the world-famous Changi Airport hub.
Code Share with Air New Zealand
In 2015, SIA and Air New Zealand established a codeshare alliance providing passengers with greater inbound, outbound and domestic travel options. The two airlines announced that from October 28, 2018 they will jointly operate a third daily service from Auckland to Singapore.
SIA recently announced that it will deploy one of its Airbus A350-900 aircraft to New Zealand for the first time.
The introduction of the A350 aircraft to Christchurch from January 7, 2019 will allow customers to experience the Airline’s Next Generation Business and Economy Class seats, as well as introduce Premium Economy Class on the route for the first time.
The Schedule
| Auckland | 14 flights weekly | 7 x Boeing 777-300ER operated by SIA; and
7 x Boeing 787-9 operated by Air New Zealand |
| Christchurch | 7 flights weekly | Boeing B777-200ER |
| Wellington | 4 flights weekly | Boeing B777-200 |
Singapore Airlines New Zealand is the Sponsor of the ‘Business Excellence in Innovation’ Category of the Eleventh Annual Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards 2018, entries to which are currently being evaluated by an independent Panel of Judges. The Awards Night will be held on Monday, November 26, 2018 at SkyCity Convention Centre, Auckland City. Tickets priced at $172.50 (including GST) and Tables seating ten persons at $1725 (including GST) per table are now on sale. Please call (09) 5336377 or 021-836528 for bookings and more information.
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(Picture of Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300 ER supplied by Singapore Airlines New Zealand)
