Sonoco ThermoSafe, a unit of Sonoco and the leading global provider of temperature assurance packaging, and Korean Air, one of the world’s largest air cargo carriers, announced a global partnership agreement for the leasing of the new Pegasus ULD® temperature-controlled bulk shipping container. The agreement enables pharmaceutical freight forwarders access to Pegasus ULD® containers directly from Korean Air. Korean Air and mutual clients will also have access to other Sonoco ThermoSafe containers as part of this agreement.
Sonoco ThermoSafe will support this partnership by adding ICN airport to its global service network. Services including ground handling, repairs, and preconditioning of Pegasus ULDs at ICN will be provided through Sonoco ThermoSafe’s global partnership with Unilode.
Sonoco ThermoSafe’s Pegasus ULD® is the world’s first FAA and EASA-approved passive bulk temperature-controlled ULD container for pharmaceutical use, which enables it to speed through international air freight handling and customs processes at the lowest possible cost. With a focus on sustainability, the Pegasus is engineered with composite materials, offering a lighter solution that is also substantially more damage-resistant than traditional metal containers. Additionally, the Pegasus ULD® contains a fully integrated, FAA-approved telemetry system, providing real-time, cloud-based data on payload and ambient temperature and key environmental factors, precisely synchronized with GPS location.
Bourji Mourad, who heads Logistics & Partner Management for Sonoco ThermoSafe’s Bulk Rental group, said, “Sonoco ThermoSafe is proud to again drive innovation in temperature-controlled container design with our Pegasus ULD. This new and exciting partnership with an industry leader like Korean Air will accelerate the adoption of the Pegasus ULD during the world’s most demanding need for pharmaceutical distribution.”
“Global shippers select Korean Air based on strict standards such as our global network, cargo capacity, and experience in handling pharmaceuticals,” said Terry Park, Managing Vice President of Korean Air Cargo Business Division. “In this light, the partnership with Sonoco ThermoSafe will eventually elevate customer satisfaction as the two parties will work closely to meet market demand.”
