ABC gets fresh with online pharma platform

Russian all-cargo carrier AirBridgeCargo Airlines (ABC) has entered into a service level agreement with Sky Fresh to use the Belgian IT firm’s online data platform for monitoring time- and temperature-sensitive shipments.
The move to digital processes will enable users to complete checklists via an app on their smartphone or tablet, with the resulting data visible on the Sky Fresh platform in real time.
ABC said the deal “offers high level of customisation, transparency of operations, traceability, efficiency and the possibility to take corrective and preventive actions, if needed”, while also being in line with the airline’s environmental agenda as it reduces its reliance on paper-based processes.
Fen Lasseel, business development manager at Sky Fresh, said the two companies “want to create a digital mindset in the air freight industry”.
According to Fedor Novikov, global director, pharma at ABC: “It is not every day we see cutting-edge technologies penetrating [the] air cargo industry, which makes Sky Fresh an attractive industry-and-tech-savvy solution. We foresee it propelling the quality of our abcPharma product, bringing it to the next level by eliminating human mistake factor.”
ABC’s pharma volumes have shown significant growth, up by a whopping 153% year on year for the first 10 months of 2017, the airline said.
The Sky Fresh app is available through the App Store of Google Play.
In October, ABC announced new freighter flights to Belgium’s Liège airport, a move that was likely linked to constraints at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Having since regained its Schiphol slots, ABC is understood to be in talks with Liège regarding a continuing operation there.