Alitalia and va-Q-tec have signed an agreement for transporting temperature sensitive goods, meaning the airlines’ customers can rent high-performance passive containers.

As part of the deal, Alitalia customers now have access to containers, which can control temperatures between -60 and +25C. Pharmaceutical shippers and forwarding agents can order the Load & Go service through the airline.

Alitalia vice president cargo, Antonio Temporini says: “Due to an increase in the demand for transport of temperature-sensitive goods, such as medical products and biopharmaceuticals for example, growing regulatory requirements and the globalisation of clinical research, uninterrupted cold chains are becoming more and more important.”

Va-Q-tec chief executive officer, Dr Joachim Kuhn says: “With Alitalia we added another strong partner for our network who provides an outstanding market coverage in its home country.”