Cathay beefs up Greater Bay cargo connections

Cathay Cargo announced it has created a fully integrated intermodal perishables network spanning air, land and sea in the Greater Bay Area (GBA). A new refrigerated barge service now connects Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) directly to Cathay Cargo Terminal Dongguan, while the Air-Land Fresh Lane has been extended across the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) to serve Macao. Cathay General Manager Cargo Commercial James Evans said: “The GBA is a key growth market for premium perishables, and we have listened closely to our customers by enhancing connectivity and strengthening service assurance across every touchpoint. With three intermodal routes now fully operational — each offering distinct advantages in speed, cost and flexibility — we remain committed to further expanding our network as demand continues to grow, while reinforcing Hong Kong’s status as a world-leading air cargo hub.” The new barge service unlocks the first commercial air-sea transport of refrigerated perishables into the wider GBA from Hong Kong, now fully operational following successful trials in early 2026. Shipments are loaded pallet-intact without breakdown, preserving packaging integrity and minimising handling risk. The barge sails directly to Cathay Cargo Terminal Dongguan in Humen, where consignees collect from dedicated cold storage on the pier. Unlike fixed flight schedules, the barge service offers flexible departure timings, well suited to shipments where cost efficiency takes priority over speed. The extension of the Air-Land Fresh Lane to Macao adds a new destination onto the HZMB corridor, serving the city’s premium retail and hospitality market. Perishables can reach their final destination in Macao in as few as four hours from HKIA, including all customs and quarantine processing. Pre‑cleared by Hong Kong Customs and secured with a recognised seal, shipments are typically not re‑examined at the land boundary, eliminating a significant source of delay for time-sensitive consignments. The transfer terminal’s 24/7 operations and refrigerated trucks ensure uninterrupted cold-chain integrity from aircraft to the doorstep. Emirates deploys Boeing 777-300ERSF Emirates said it will deploy the Boeing 777-300ERSF passenger to freighter converted aircraft starting on flights from Hong Kong to Dubai carrying over 100 tonnes of cargo. The converted Emirates Boeing 777-300ERSF offers 100 tonnes of payload capacity and 811 m³ of cargo volume, representing a 25% increase in cargo volume over the Boeing 777-F production freighter. At 47 pallet positions, the converted aircraft also accommodates 10 additional pallet positions when compared with Boeing 777-F production freighter, making it ideal for transporting volumetric cargo such as e-commerce goods which currently constitute around 20% of global air cargo tonnage with further growth projected in the next few years. The converted Boeing 777-300ERSF is the sixth new freighter, following five Boeing 777-F production freighters, to join Emirates SkyCargo’s fleet since March 2026. As part of its expansion strategy, Emirates SkyCargo will also be taking delivery of five additional Boeing 777-F aircraft as well as one additional converted Boeing 777-300ERSF by December 2026. Emirates SkyCargo will also be introducing three additional converted Boeing 777-ERSFs into its fleet in 2027. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Sally Passey at [email protected]