Emirates SkyCargo becomes first airline to use new envirotainer

Two Envirotainer “RAP e2” carrying pharmaceutical products were transported on a commercial flight from Hamburg, Germany via Emirates’ hub in Dubai to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. Pharmaceuticals need to maintain a constant temperature during the entire transport process.

The Envirotainer RAP e2 is a heating and cooling container with active temperature control, which enables the transport of mainly temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals from door to door. Temperatures can be regulated between 0°C and 25°C. This brand new container concept only uses light composite materials, serving to reduce the weight and emissions during transport.

Ram Menen, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President Cargo, said, “Being the first carrier to embrace the RAP e2 underlines Emirates’ our role as innovative airline offering transport solutions that are tailored specifically to our customers’ requirements. Using the Envirotainers we are able to guarantee an even higher reliability while transporting temperature-sensitive freight.”

Around 25 per cent of the 1.8m tonnes of cargo Emirates SkyCargo carried in the 2010-11 financial year (ending March 31st 2011) was temperature sensitive.