Air India SATS Airport Services has commenced trial operations of its integrated on-airport perishable cargo handling centre at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, which is expected to be operational by the end of 2016.

The 11,000 square metre facility, AISATS COOLPORT, is a joint venture between Air India and SATS, with a capacity to handle 40,000 tonnes per annum to cater for perishable commodities such as pharmaceuticals, fruits, vegetables, poultry, seafood and flowers.

It has 17 dedicated cold rooms with temperatures ranging from -25 to +25C, and has been designed as a One Stop Shop to facilitate import and export processes with an integrated Drug Controller lab and Plant Quarantine Inspection & Certification office.

AISATS chief executive officer, Mike Chew says the Indian economy needs upgraded infrastructure to cater for growth in the air cargo industry. “Keeping in view the significance of air cargo to the economic growth of the country, we truly believe that this dedicated state-of-the-art facility will play a vital role in supporting better trade facilitation, and will further boost the exports and imports of temperature-sensitive products.”