How Airports Handle Perishable Air Cargo?

Ever tried to figure out what happened behind the scenes when fresh flowers, seafood, or tropical fruits arrive at your supermarket, still looking fresh and tasty as if they were just picked? Well, the secret lies in how airports handle perishable air cargo.

Let’s know what happens from the moment a box of fresh fruits lands at the airport to the time it’s delivered to the final destination.

There’s a lot more to it than just unloading and sending it on its way.

What Comes Under Perishable Cargo?

Okay, before we start the main discussion, it’s good to understand what falls under the category of perishable cargo. Basically, it includes everything that can spoil, degrade, or decay if not kept in the right environment.

This includes fresh fruits and vegetables, Seafood and meat, Flowers and plants, Pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, and baked goods. Other time-sensitive goods, such as high-value electronics, documents, and seasonal products, also fall under this category.

The key with all of these is time and temperature control. The faster and stable the journey, the better the condition of the goods.

The Goods Arrival at the Airport

Now, the main process begins—the arrival of the goods at the airport.

Once the shipment reaches the cargo terminal, it doesn’t just sit around. Every minute counts when dealing with perishable goods. The moment they arrive, air cargo staff begin acting immediately to avoid any exposure that could spoil them.

Below is a simple explanation of what happens next.

Staff Members Unload the Cargo

Firstly, the air staff carefully unload all the perishables. They are professional, trained, and experienced, so they know how to handle goods. Most of the time, air staff keep perishables in temperature-controlled containers or unit load devices, which are designed to protect the cargo from the elements.

Did you know? Many airports even have dedicated perishable handling teams to handle this kind of freight with extra care.

Send Cargo to Storage Areas

The staff members immediately send all the goods to temperature-controlled zones or cold storage areas. But why? What’s the motive to do so? Well, to prevent goods from being spoiled by outside climate conditions.

Additionally, the areas where they keep perishables are completely clean, organized, and equipped with a 24/7 monitoring system.  This way, the air cargo staff puts their best care into handling perishables, ensuring you receive the goods in fresh and top-quality condition.

And yeah—there’s no one-size-fits solution here. Each product has its own different storage and transit needs. Therefore, many airport cold facilities have different rooms set to various temperatures, humidity levels, and even air circulation patterns.

Inspection and Custom Clearance

Perishable air cargo cannot leave the airport without inspections and customs clearance. Why? Because there are strict rules in place to make sure products are safe, legal, and compliant with international standards.

Now here’s the tricky part: custom clearances can take so much time—sometimes hours or even longer. This is not ideal when dealing with perishable goods. To solve this, many airports use fast-track systems designed especially for perishable cargo. What do these systems do? Speed up paperwork, inspections, and move shipments to the next stage without unnecessary delays.

In some cases, dedicated teams are on standby just for perishables, making sure the cargo gets cleared and released as quickly as possible. This way, the goods stay fresh and reach customers and marketers on time.

Repackaging If Needed

Sometimes, cargo handlers discover that the box is damaged, a seal is not tight, or the packaging is not holding up the way it should. In the case of perishable goods, that’s a big risk—any exposure to heat, air, or contamination can spoil the shipment. That’s why many airports have re-packing solutions in place. Here, staff can quickly and securely re-pack the items so that they stay protected during the journey. Re-packaging isn’t needed in every shipment, but yes, it’s a backup option that adds an extra layer of protection in case something goes wrong.

Pre-Cooling the Goods

Before loading the goods onto the aircraft, they are pre-cooled. I know you might be wondering: what’s the need for pre-cooling after keeping them in cold storage areas? Well, that’s because the goods can warm up a little during handling. In order to avoid any temperature strikes, the air staff often pre-cools them to ensure they’re stabilized at the right level before being moved to the aircraft. This step is especially for items like fresh produce, flowers, and seafood, which can lose their freshness quickly if exposed to the wrong conditions. By pre-cooling, air cargo handles ensure the items are already at the right temperature levels when entering the aircraft.

Get Them on Board

The final part comes in. Is the cargo completely ready? It’s time to load it onto the aircraft. You’ll see that in many airports, cargo handlers make use of refrigerated transport vehicles or dollies to move goods from storage areas to aircraft. This way, they maintain a consistent temperature for perishables.

But wait a second, what about inside the plane? Well, that’s where special containers come in. Cargo handlers use temperature-controlled units for sensitive items like fresh produce, seafood, and flowers. These units regulate the temperature levels during the journey.

Tracking Shipment

Wait, the process doesn’t end here. After finally saying goodbye to the cargo as it takes off, the journey is still being monitored. Thanks to the real-time tracking systems, both the shipper and airline can keep an eye on where the goods are and how they’re doing. And the more advanced part—most perishable shipments now travel with temperature and humidity sensors, which send live updates. If something goes wrong, for example, sudden temperature strikes, these sensors provide real-time alerts so handlers can address the issue quickly. This kind of visibility gives peace of mind to both shipper and airline as they know their products are moving safely.

Bottom Line

In the end, handling perishable goods is really a balancing act of speed, precision, and control. A delay of hours or a temperature swing of a few degrees can turn a perfectly good product into a spoiled one. That’s why airports put their 100% best in handling these types of goods. They follow strict safety protocols and manage everything step by step, ensuring you receive your goods in perfect condition. So, the next time you see fresh mangoes or a bouquet of flowers at a local shop, you’ll know how behind the scenes work went into getting them to you in perfect shape.