With the ever-changing nature of cold chain logistics, the airfreight industry has seen a lot of investment in this sector, such as the evolution of technology in passive packaging – a main driver in shippers moving away from active containers in the pharmaceutical industry. Improvements and digitisation of temperature monitoring have also been instrumental in increasing the level of visibility in the industry to provide shippers with the greatest assurance their cargo is being handled properly.

“It is imperative to provide customised solutions and services in this sector of the industry. Pharmaceutical shippers are known for driving innovation, and they expect the same from their logistics providers. We’re continuously pushing ourselves to provide creative, tailor-made solutions for our customers,” Matthieu Casey, Managing Director – Commercial at Air Canada Cargo, stated.

“At Air Canada Cargo, we’re taking steps to ensure that we’re at the forefront of quality and capability in our industry. For our customers and shippers, quality is the most important topic of discussion. We also strive to provide a robust portfolio of container leasing options and diversification of services so that any need our customer has is met to their fullest expectation.

Changing volumes

Across various sectors, Air Canada Cargo has identified a number of segments that are growing at a sizeable rate, delivering increased volumes and customer demand. The clinical trial market has seen substantial developments, with shippers submitting new applications for treatments.

“We anticipate a great deal of growth still to come from this sector,” Casey stated. “We’re also experiencing consistent growth in the perishable markets across our network in Latin America, North America, and Europe. This includes seafood from the North Sea, fresh produce from the West Coast of the United States, and flowers from South America.”

The need for bespoke services in cool chain logistics is also clear, as each segment, whether pharmaceuticals, perishables, or other temperature-sensitive goods, comes with unique requirements when in transit.

“It is imperative to provide customised solutions and services in this sector of the industry. Pharmaceutical shippers are constantly driving innovation, and they expect the same from their logistics providers. We’re constantly pushing ourselves to provide creative, tailor-made solutions for our customers.”

Effective handling

Efficiency and sustainability are at the core of Air Canada Cargo’s state-of-the-art cold chain facility at our hub in Toronto, where the team has been working to implement innovations such as dedicated temperature-controlled truck docks and internal transportation routing to ensure customers have the most secure cold chain in the market.

These developments are only the start of the vision that the airline has for its base though, as the team have acknowledged the significant potential that new developments in technology have, not just in visibility but in ensuring the most efficient operations possible.

“The biggest challenges and opportunities in cold chain will come from the development of AI and automation technologies,” Casey explained. As these technologies become more prevalent, they’ll inevitably make a large impact on the industry. The first company to put these technologies to proper use will have a competitive advantage.”