The carrier successfully completed trial shipments of live lobsters and geoducks under the new cross-border initiative, which streamlines customs procedures and maintains cold chain integrity for premium perishables entering the 86-million-strong Greater Bay Area market.
Cathay Cargo has become the first airline to utilise the recently launched Air-Land Fresh Lane to improve the efficiency of moving goods across the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge (HZMB).
The initiative was developed by the governments of Guangdong and Hong Kong SAR to facilitate the efficient cross-border movement of perishable goods between the two locations.
The initiative allows fruit and live or chilled seafood arriving at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) to be transported seamlessly into the Greater Bay Area (GBA) via temperature-controlled trucks equipped with GPS tracking and accredited e-locks, all under a single air waybill.
Supporting this process is a “Certificate for Transhipment Confirmation” issued by Hong Kong Customs and Excise, which streamlines inspection procedures and waives food importer registration requirements, reducing both processing time and cost.
These measures comply with China’s customs supervision regulations for imported fruit and aquatic animals.
A new temperature-controlled inspection facility at the HZMB Zhuhai Port carries out spot checks, ensuring the cold chain remains intact throughout the journey.
The first trial shipment under the new system took place in mid-August, involving a consignment of live lobsters from Melbourne.
A second shipment of live geoducks (a type of clam) from Los Angeles followed soon after. Both moved from aircraft to cross-border truck without delay, validating the system’s reliability, Cathay Cargo said.
James Evans, General Manager Cargo Commercial at Cathay Cargo, said: “The new Air-Land Fresh Lane is great news for shippers looking to send premium perishable products into the heart of the Greater Bay Area (GBA),” said general manager cargo commercial James Evans.
“The whole of the GBA is our home market; and as well as its export strength, we believe the GBA and its 86m inhabitants also exert phenomenal consumer power. We can see high-quality perishables finding a new and exciting market with this new process.”
The last couple of years have seen a concerted effort to improve connectivity between Hong Kong and the GBA following the opening of the HZMB.
One major development has been the opening of an intermodal cargo handling operation between Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and the Dongguan Logistics Park.
The operation allows shipments to be transferred between Hong Kong International Airport and Dongguan via barge to speed up transport times.
