Smart Airfreight container on the first flight from Zurich to San Francisco

Founded in 2019, Swiss Airtainer is developing and renting out intelligent, lightweight smart airfreight containers to transport life-saving pharma products. The solution aims at providing an eco-friendly, cost-effective, and intelligent temperature-controlled air cargo container that uses solar energy. This allows the thermal unit to maintain the required temperature range (2 °C to 8 °C but also 15 °C to 25 °C), making it an ideal solution for transporting medicine (biologics, biotech, pharmaceuticals, large and small molecules) to remote and underdeveloped areas, where access to cold chain infrastructure can be limited. Additionally, the unit contains advanced temperature and humidity control systems, and smart technology to provide real-time tracking and monitoring of the cargo.

Swiss Airtainer's has received all required certifications, including the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which confirms the safety and reliability of the product. Support from the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO, further validates the company’s efforts to innovate and improve the airfreight industry, as stated by the company.

The containers are now ready for use. In partnership with Swiss WorldCargo and PLP, Airtainer has registered its first flight between Zurich and San Francisco. “We are excited to be a part of this innovation, which has the potential to significantly impact the transportation of life-saving medicine. The self-sustaining airfreight container is a game-changer for the industry, and we are highly committed to its success”, said Lorenzo Stoll, Head of Cargo at Swiss International Air Lines.

According to Stephen Maietta, Senior Vice President at Airtainer, the startup has further ongoing pilots and scheduled test shipments.

(RAN)