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Responding to the Demand for Perishables by Initiating the Operation of Perishables Handling Facilities
In September 2021, Incheon International Airport became the first in Asia to open the Cool Cargo Center within AIRSIDE (the aircraft operation zone) to address the annual growth of approximately 20% in perishables. This facility minimizes transit times and ensures the best freshness of the goods. The opening of the Cool Cargo Center has enabled timely responses to recent trends in air cargo and has established a solid foundation for safely handling temperature-sensitive cargo such as pharmaceuticals; thus positioning Incheon International Airport as a central hub for cold chain logistics. In the future, the airport plans to expand this foundation by developing dedicated terminals for cold chain cargo, allowing for the handling of a wider range of perishable items including food and plants.
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Achieving IATA’s CEIV Fresh Certification, Demonstrating Reliability in Perishables Air Transport Quality
The global perishables market is forecast to be valued at $4.9 trillion by 2030, with the domestic market showing an average annual growth rate of 9% over the past five years. To attract perishables, Incheon International Airport proactively formed an airport-level community including Incheon International Airport Corporation, airlines, and logistics companies and acquired in November 2022 the IATA CEIV fresh certification, an international standard for supply chain temperature management. Such certification by IATA, which recognizes the quality of perishables air transport including handling facilities, specialized personnel, and management systems, has further solidified Incheon International Airport’s branding and status as a logistics hub airport. Moving forward, the Corporation and participating companies plan to promote joint marketing efforts actively to attract perishables using this certification.
CEIV Fresh Certification: A specialized quality certification system by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) focused on the air transport of perishables.