China Airlines Launches Ultra-Low Temperature Cargo Service

China Airlines, the only airline in Taiwan to have obtained international pharmaceutical cold chain logistics certification, has launched a new ultra-low temperature delivery service to take advantage of opportunities arising from requirements related to global COVID19 vaccine deliveries.

Deliveries for cargo chilled to as low as -80°C can now be undertaken once dry ice is added.

Low-temperature cargo is held in containers with active temperature control to shield them from changes in ambient temperature even if moving between the northern and southern hemispheres with their very different seasons. All goods that must be kept between +25°C and -20°C including flu vaccines, anti-cancer drugs, insulin and rapid test agents can all be transported in a secure and stable manner.

An agreement has now been signed between China Airlines and international passive temperature-controlled container suppliers to expand the service portfolio to include ultra-low temperature delivery.

Temperature-controlled containers are used to maintain the quality of goods during transportation. Unlike conventional cold chain logistics in which temperature-controlled containers utilize battery-powered active-cooling, passive ultra-low temperature containers require no batteries. A combination of patented vacuum insulated panels and phase change materials effectively maintain the specified temperature for up to 5 days.

A storage temperature as low as -80°C can even be achieved with the addition of dry ice. This provides certain vaccines, such as the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, with the stable temperature they need to maintain their efficacy, quality during transport.

China Airlines’ CEIV Pharma certification, many years of experience in professional transportation, and extensive network covering major European and American cities such as Frankfurt, London , New York and Chicago, mean that it stands ready to meet the demand for vaccine transportation. Talks are underway with partner airlines on opportunities offered by the transshipment of vaccines by other countries.

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