02 December, 2020

Cainiao Partners Ethiopian Airlines to Launch Cold Chain Air Freight for Temperature-Controlled Vaccine Transportation

 Temperature-controlled medicines will be distributed twice a week from Shenzhen to Africa, and to the rest of the world via Dubai and Addis Ababa. 

Flight will depart from Shenzhen Airport, the fourth airport in Mainland China to be CEIV-certified for pharmaceutical logistics by IATA.



Cainiao Smart Logistics Network, the logistics arms of Alibaba Group Holdings Limited, announced its partnership with Ethiopian Airlines to launch  a special cold chain air freight for the transportation of temperature-controlled medicines from Shenzhen Airport, China's first medical cross-border cold chain facility. Temperature-controlled medicines will be distributed twice a week from Shenzhen to Africa, and to the rest of the world via Dubai and Addis Ababa. 

This is China's first cross-border medical cold chain route to be operated regularly and is certified to  transport temperature-controlled medicines including COVID-19 vaccines. 

The end-to-end transportation process requires a highly effective cold chain management. During air  freight, the entire cold chain cabin is equipped with a temperature control system that monitors the cabin’s  temperature in real-time. As the fourth airport in Mainland China that obtained International Air Transport  Association (IATA)’s Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) certification  for pharmaceutical logistics, Shenzhen Airport is also well-equipped to handle biotechnology products.  The cargo terminal in Ethiopia is outfitted with compartmentalized cold storage facilities with temperature  between -23to 25. It occupies an area of 54,000 square metres, with dedicated cool dollies and  pharma team, as well as real-time temperature monitoring system to ensure a safe and seamless cold  chain logistics for handling temperature sensitive healthcare products.  

“Cainiao’s global logistics network spans over 200 countries and regions, providing end-to-end integrated  logistics services, including digital customs clearance capabilities,” said James Zhao, General Manager of  Cainiao International Supply Chain. “The launch of the cold chain air freight has further bolstered our  global logistics capabilities, and allow us to offer a one-stop solution for the global distribution of medical  products such as the Covid-19 vaccines.” 

Tewolde GebreMariam, Ethiopian Group CEO said “Ethiopian Airlines will repeat its remarkable  and globally recognized success in leading the fast delivery of PPEs few months ago with similar  delivery speed, professional handling and maintaining the cold chain during the forthcoming  global distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine. In anticipation of the Covid-19 vaccine release, we will  be at the forefront to further discharge our responsibility in the distribution of the vaccine across  the globe.



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