Cathay Pacific has become the world’s first airline to be awarded CEIV Fresh, the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) globally-recognised accreditation for perishable product handling, and the association hopes that will encourage other airlines to seek certification as well.

Ma Tao, IATA’s Regional Vice-President for North Asia, formally presented the CEIV (Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators) certificate at IATA’s offices in Hong Kong. He said: ‘We are delighted to have Cathay Pacific as the first airline to achieve the CEIV Fresh certification. We look forward to having more carriers around the world participating in the programme.

‘CEIV Fresh started because industry players felt there was a need to improve the performance in the transportation of perishable cargo. Globally, the spend on perishables is growing. Asia Pacific, in particular, has a large perishables market.

‘Since the launch of CEIV Fresh at the IATA World Cargo Symposium, we have received many enquiries from industry stakeholders for CEIV Fresh certification.”

Cathay Pacific General Manager Cargo Service Delivery Frosti Lau, who received the CEIV Fresh certificate on behalf of the airline, said: ‘Acquiring this new certification shows our commitment to continuous improvement in service quality and gives our customers the peace of mind in our special handling throughout the shipment journey. Along with other airport stakeholders in Hong Kong, including CPSL (Cathay Pacific Services Ltd), this collaborative approach further boosts Hong Kong’s reputation as a key international gateway for the handling of perishable products.’