After a summer without its customary lull we are starting to enter the seasonal peak period, and we expect the market to be robust. As has been the case this year, this is led by the continuing growth in e-commerce, but also, I’m happy to report an increase in tonnages for our special shipment solutions. 

Our solutions for shipments that require special handling continue to be a focus of investment for us, and a key differentiator in the market. We are progressively refreshing these solutions to ensure we are meeting our customers’ requirements, adding assurance, quality and visibility. These solutions for time, temperature and handling-sensitive shipments are backed by industry accreditations, and I’m delighted that Cathay Cargo has become the first airline to be recertified for three of IATA’s CEIV accreditations – CEIV Pharma, CEIV Fresh and CEIV Live Animals – simultaneously, giving us the full set with CEIV Lithium Batteries, which we were awarded last year.  

So far in 2024, we have refreshed our Cathay Expert solution for out-of-gauge, super heavy or fragile shipments, which has seen new business and double-digit tonnage growth, while this month saw the refresh of Cathay Courier, bringing piece-level tracking for small and urgent shipments. You can learn more about how digitalisation and dedicated handling is bringing additional flexibility and visibility to Cathay Courier, making it ideal for a widening customer base, from SMEs all the way to bespoke e-commerce shippers. 

Next on the refresh production line is Cathay Fresh, which we will ensure is updated to meet the requirements of our perishables shippers and forwarders. Alongside the Cathay Cargo Terminal, we took the Cathay Fresh message out on the road to the recent Asia Fruit Logistica trade show in Hong Kong, where our stand focused on our cool-chain expertise and visibility through our next-generation Ultra Track service. 

This is good timing for Cathay Fresh because we can anticipate an uptick in bookings during the peak season bringing in ever-popular soft fruits and cherries to Asia from South America via our interline network and from South West Pacific for the Christmas and Chinese New Year celebrations. But even as more of our passenger capacity returns, and with up to 100 freighters a week over the peak period, I’d still advise you to book early to make sure you’re on board.