India Launches First Airside Reefer Truck at Hyderabad

India has taken a significant step towards strengthening its cold-chain logistics infrastructure with the launch of the country’s first airside reefer truck at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA). The specialised vehicle was unveiled on Tuesday by GMR Aero Cargo and Logistics and is aimed at improving temperature-controlled cargo handling during airside operations.

The introduction of the airside reefer truck addresses a long-standing challenge in airport cargo logistics—maintaining uninterrupted temperature control while transporting sensitive cargo between the cargo terminal and aircraft. Traditionally, such cargo is exposed to ambient conditions during ramp transfers, increasing the risk of temperature deviations that can compromise product quality, particularly for pharmaceuticals, perishables, and biological materials.

Designed to eliminate this exposure, the reefer truck ensures continuous cold-chain integrity throughout airside movement. According to the company, the vehicle is capable of maintaining a controlled temperature range between +2°C and +25°C, making it suitable for a wide variety of temperature-sensitive commodities. These include pharmaceutical products, fresh fruits and vegetables, flowers, seafood, dairy items, meat, and other perishables that require precise thermal management.

The vehicle has been built on a Tata chassis and offers a payload capacity of 10 tonnes. Its insulated cargo box measures 22 feet in length, 9 feet in width, and 6.6 feet in height, and is equipped with advanced PUF insulation to ensure thermal stability. A key operational advantage of the reefer truck is its ability to accommodate two lower-deck unit load devices (ULDs), allowing for faster and more efficient aircraft loading while reducing the number of trips required on the tarmac.

Industry stakeholders see the development as a crucial upgrade for air cargo operations at RGIA, which serves as a major hub for pharmaceutical exports and perishable goods. By strengthening cold-chain reliability at the airside level, the airport is expected to enhance cargo quality assurance and minimize losses caused by temperature fluctuations.

Commenting on the launch, Pradeep Panicker, CEO of GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited, said the initiative reflects the airport’s commitment to setting higher benchmarks in cargo handling. He noted that ensuring an unbroken cold chain from terminal to aircraft is critical for supporting India’s expanding pharmaceutical manufacturing base and its growing role as a global hub for perishable exports.

The launch also aligns with broader efforts to modernise India’s logistics ecosystem and improve infrastructure standards in line with international best practices. As demand for temperature-sensitive cargo movement continues to rise, particularly in pharma and agri-exports, such innovations are expected to play a key role in enhancing India’s competitiveness in global air cargo markets.