Cathay Cargo has expanded its Air-Land Fresh Lane service to Macao, extending its fast-track cold chain network across the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and enabling the rapid delivery of imported perishable goods under a single air waybill.
The expansion marks the latest development for the intermodal logistics solution, which allows fresh produce and seafood arriving in Hong Kong to be transported seamlessly onwards to destinations across southern China.
The service, supported by a “transhipment certificate” issued by the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department, has now been adapted to meet Macao’s import requirements while maintaining an expedited end-to-end cold chain process.
Under the new arrangement, consignees in Macao can receive shipments in as little as four hours after an aircraft lands at Hong Kong International Airport.
First shipment delivers Welsh blue lobsters to Macao
Cathay Cargo completed its first Air-Land Fresh Lane shipment to Macao at the end of May, transporting live blue lobsters from Anglesey, Wales.
The consignment, weighing more than 220kg and loaded onto a single pallet, was transported from Hong Kong International Airport across the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge under a single air waybill.
Because only a limited number of road feeder service operators in Hong Kong are authorised to enter Macao directly, the cargo was transferred between vehicles at a designated border staging point before completing its onward journey.
To streamline the process, the truck travelling into Macao was also assigned its own “flight number”, allowing the shipment to remain under a single air waybill throughout the journey.
Premium hospitality sector creates new opportunities
Although Macao’s population of around 680,000 is significantly smaller than the Greater Bay Area’s population of more than 80 million people, Cathay Cargo believes the city’s luxury tourism and hospitality sectors offer considerable growth potential.
Frank Yau said Macao’s concentration of high-end hotels and restaurants would create strong demand for premium imported perishables.
“Macao has more than 40 five-star hotels, many with high-end international restaurants,” he said.
“I think these will create the natural consumption market for this new service.”
Demand growing for fresh produce and seafood
Cathay Cargo said its existing Air-Land Fresh Lane operations via Zhuhai have seen growing demand, with regular shipments of chilled seafood, live seafood and fresh fruit moving through the expedited cross-border network.
Yau said seasonal imports would continue to support volumes throughout the year.
“We’ve just come to the end of the Australian cherry and grape season, but these fruit shipments will start up from the Americas soon,” he said.
“Shipments are becoming more regular, and we are pleased that we can extend this service to Macao right now, which shows we are working together with our partners to develop the solution.”
Partnership aims to strengthen Hong Kong’s cargo hub status
The initiative is supported by Airport Authority Hong Kong, which is subsidising the expanded Air-Land Fresh Lane service to encourage greater use of the route.
Cathay Cargo said close cooperation with Hong Kong Customs and airport authorities would help reinforce Hong Kong’s role as a key logistics gateway for southern China.
Yau said the collaboration would support the city’s ambitions to retain its position as the world’s leading air cargo hub.
“We’re very grateful to be working with such a proactive airport authority and Hong Kong Customs, which are facilitating trade by supporting efforts to develop imports into the Greater Bay Area,” he said.
“Developments like this will help ensure that Hong Kong retains its status as the world’s busiest air cargo hub and its leading position as a gateway to the wider Greater Bay Area.”