MEDIA RELEASE
20 SEPTEMBER 2018
SIA LAUNCHES THRUCOOL FOR PHARMACEUTICAL AND HEALTHCARE SHIPMENTS
Singapore Airlines (SIA) today announced the launch of THRUCOOL, a new service to transport high-value, time-sensitive
and temperature-controlled pharmaceutical cargo with speed and reliability.
THRUCOOL offers dedicated cold chain services to safeguard the integrity of pharmaceutical and healthcare shipments
during air transportation. These include priority uplift and handling, quick ramp transfers at airports, cold room
facilities, as well as thermal blankets and covers for crucial insulation from external factors. Customers can also opt
to place shipments in temperature-controlled containers, and track their location during shipping.
To further preserve product integrity in cold chain handling both on the ground and in the air, SIA has partnered with
leading terminal operators SATS, Cargologic and Qantas Freight to launch a ‘quality corridor’ along the
Zurich-Singapore-Sydney route as an initial offering. Complying with standards adopted from the IATA CEIV Pharma[1] programme, the quality corridor addresses the industry’s need for safety, care and efficiency in the transportation of
pharmaceutical and healthcare products. This reduces the potential for product loss attributed to handling and
environmental factors such as temperature excursions during carriage.
SIA Senior Vice President Cargo, Mr Chin Yau Seng, said, “As the first airline in the Asia-Pacific region to be CEIV
Pharma-certified, the launch of THRUCOOL reinforces our commitment to provide customers dedicated cold chain services
when transporting time- and temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical shipments. We are acutely aware of the life-saving role
these shipments play in societies across the world and THRUCOOL is our assurance that our customers’ cargo will receive
the best care not only on our flights but also on the ground during transit. We will continue to collaborate with our
industry partners to expand our network of quality corridors to further promote the integrity of pharmaceutical products
in their journey across key trade lanes.”
SIA was the first airline in the Asia-Pacific region to be awarded the IATA CEIV Pharma Certification and is part of
international and regional CEIV communities such as Pharma@Changi, and Pharma.Aero, which jointly pursue innovation in
the shipping of pharmaceuticals. The CEIV Pharma certification imposes extensive standards that adhere to guidelines set
under the European Union’s Good Distribution Practice, and World Health Organization Annex 5 Good Distribution Practices
for Pharmaceutical Products.
SIA offers air cargo services to more than 130 destinations with the SIA Group’s modern passenger fleet of more than 190
aircraft, in addition to seven freighter aircraft.