New cross-border cold chain solution enables premium seafood, fruit and other perishables to reach Macao within hours of arrival at Hong Kong International Airport
Cathay Cargo has expanded its innovative Air-Land Fresh Lane service into Macao, further strengthening the movement of premium perishables across the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and reinforcing Hong Kong’s role as a critical gateway for high-value, time-sensitive cargo entering Southern China.
The latest extension of the expedited cross-border logistics solution enables imported perishables arriving at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) to be transported directly to Macao under a single air waybill, significantly reducing transit times and streamlining customs procedures.
The development marks another milestone in Cathay Cargo’s strategy to enhance regional cargo connectivity while creating faster and more efficient distribution channels for fresh food products, seafood and other temperature-sensitive shipments destined for key consumer markets across the GBA.
Expedited Cold Chain Solution for Premium Imports
The Air-Land Fresh Lane was originally developed to simplify the movement of imported perishables from Hong Kong into the Greater Bay Area by combining airfreight and cross-border trucking under a single transport document.
A key feature of the service is the use of a special “transhipment certificate” issued by the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department, allowing goods to move more efficiently through customs while maintaining cold chain integrity throughout the journey.
With the addition of Macao, the process has been adapted to meet local import requirements while preserving the speed and efficiency that have become hallmarks of the Air-Land Fresh Lane model.
According to Cathay Cargo, consignees in Macao can now receive imported goods in as little as four hours after an aircraft lands at Hong Kong International Airport, providing a significant advantage for products with limited shelf life and strict freshness requirements.
The rapid turnaround is particularly valuable for premium seafood, fresh produce and high-end food imports serving Macao’s luxury hospitality and tourism sectors.
First Shipment Demonstrates Service Capability
The inaugural Air-Land Fresh Lane shipment to Macao was completed in late May and involved the transportation of live blue lobsters sourced from Anglesey, Wales.
The shipment, weighing more than 220 kilograms, arrived in Hong Kong by air before being transferred onto a temperature-controlled truck for onward delivery across the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.
The movement was completed under a single air waybill, demonstrating the seamless integration between air and land transportation modes that underpins the Air-Land Fresh Lane concept.
Given the limited number of road feeder service operators authorized to cross directly into Macao, the shipment required a carefully coordinated transfer between vehicles at a designated border staging point before final delivery.
To maintain continuity under the single-air-waybill framework, the truck transporting the cargo to Macao was assigned a dedicated “flight number,” ensuring uninterrupted shipment visibility and documentation throughout the journey.
Unlocking Opportunities in Macao’s Premium Hospitality Market
Cathay Cargo believes the new service will unlock substantial opportunities for exporters and importers targeting Macao’s luxury hospitality, tourism and gaming sectors.
The city is home to a significant concentration of five-star hotels, premium restaurants and integrated resort developments that depend on reliable access to fresh international ingredients and specialty food products.
Frank Yau, Head of Cargo Sales for Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area at Cathay Cargo, noted that Macao’s extensive network of luxury hospitality establishments creates a natural demand base for premium imported perishables.
The ability to move high-value seafood, fresh produce and specialty food items quickly from overseas origins to Macao establishments is expected to enhance supply chain reliability while supporting the city’s growing demand for premium dining experiences.
Building on Success Across the Greater Bay Area
The Macao expansion builds on the success of Cathay Cargo’s Air-Land Fresh Lane operations launched across the Greater Bay Area in 2024.
Cathay became the first airline to utilize the Air-Land Fresh Lane framework to facilitate the movement of imported perishables across the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, enabling fruit, chilled seafood and live seafood shipments arriving at HKIA to move directly into mainland GBA markets.
The service utilizes temperature-controlled vehicles equipped with GPS tracking systems and accredited electronic locks, ensuring both product integrity and shipment security throughout transit.
In April this year, Cathay Cargo further enhanced its multimodal perishables network by introducing a sea-air solution connecting Hong Kong International Airport directly with the HKIA Logistics Park in Dongguan, creating additional distribution options for imported premium goods entering Southern China.
Growing Demand for Fresh Produce and Seafood
Cathay Cargo reports that demand for the Air-Land Fresh Lane has continued to gain momentum, particularly among importers of seafood and seasonal fresh produce.
Regular shipments of chilled and live seafood, along with premium fruit imports, are now moving through the expedited cross-border process.
The service has recently supported imports during Australia’s cherry and grape export season, while future volumes are expected to be driven by fresh produce shipments originating from the Americas and other global agricultural markets.
The increasing frequency of shipments reflects growing market confidence in the solution and highlights the importance of efficient cold chain infrastructure in supporting regional food supply chains.
Reinforcing Hong Kong’s Cargo Hub Position
The initiative has received strong support from key stakeholders, including Airport Authority Hong Kong and Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department, both of which have played important roles in facilitating the development of the service.
Airport Authority Hong Kong is supporting the Macao extension through incentives designed to stimulate demand and encourage greater use of the Air-Land Fresh Lane network.
Industry observers view the initiative as part of a broader strategy to strengthen Hong Kong’s position as the world’s leading international air cargo gateway while deepening integration with the wider Greater Bay Area economy.
By providing faster and more efficient access to key consumer markets across Southern China and Macao, Cathay Cargo is helping to create new opportunities for global exporters while enhancing the competitiveness of Hong Kong International Airport as a premier perishables logistics hub.
As demand for fresh food imports, premium seafood and temperature-sensitive products continues to rise across the region, solutions such as the Air-Land Fresh Lane are expected to play an increasingly important role in shaping the future of cross-border cold chain logistics within the Greater Bay Area.
