Cathay Cargo announced a major milestone in reinforcing Hong Kong’s role as the international cargo gateway for the wider Greater Bay Area (GBA), with the establishment of a fully integrated intermodal perishables network spanning air, land and sea.

A new refrigerated barge service now connects Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) directly to Cathay Cargo Terminal Dongguan, while the Air-Land Fresh Lane has been extended across the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) to serve Macao. Together with the established air-to-air service to Guangzhou, shippers now benefit from more routing choices, stronger cold-chain assurance, and improved access to one of Asia’s most dynamic consumer markets.

Cathay General Manager Cargo Commercial James Evans said: “The GBA is a key growth market for premium perishables, and we have listened closely to our customers by enhancing connectivity and strengthening service assurance across every touchpoint. With three intermodal routes now fully operational — each offering distinct advantages in speed, cost and flexibility — we remain committed to further expanding our network as demand continues to grow, while reinforcing Hong Kong’s status as a world-leading air cargo hub.”

The first air-sea perishables solution for the GBA
The new barge service unlocks the first commercial air-sea transport of refrigerated perishables into the wider GBA from Hong Kong, now fully operational following successful trials in early 2026.

Shipments are loaded pallet-intact without breakdown, preserving packaging integrity and minimising handling risk. The barge sails directly to Cathay Cargo Terminal Dongguan in Humen, where consignees collect from dedicated cold storage on the pier. Unlike fixed flight schedules, the barge service offers flexible departure timings, well-suited to shipments where cost efficiency takes priority over speed.

Fresh to Macao in four hours
The extension of the Air-Land Fresh Lane to Macao adds a new destination to the HZMB corridor, serving the city’s premium retail and hospitality market. Perishables can reach their final destination in Macao in as few as four hours from HKIA, including all customs and quarantine processing. Pre‑cleared by Hong Kong Customs and secured with a recognised seal, shipments are typically not re‑examined at the land boundary, eliminating a significant source of delay for time-sensitive consignments. The transfer terminal’s 24/7 operations and refrigerated trucks ensure uninterrupted cold- chain integrity from aircraft to the doorstep.

Three modes, one ecosystem
All three routes operate under a single air waybill within the Cathay Cargo ecosystem, backed by IATA CEIV Fresh certification expertise, giving shippers seamless, end-to-end cold-chain assurance.

Each route is designed to address a distinct shipper need:

• Air-air: Offering bellyhold capacity on up to three daily passenger flights between Hong Kong and Guangzhou for time-critical cargo, with airside transfers and early-morning arrivals aligned to wholesale market cycles.
• Air-land: Cross-boundary cold-chain truck service via the HZMB to Zhuhai and Macao with direct delivery to customers.
• Air-sea: A new refrigerated link to Dongguan, providing a cost-efficient, schedule-flexible alternative for less time-sensitive consignments.

Eligible shipments using the Air-Land Fresh Lane into the GBA may also enjoy promotional trucking rates under the Airport Authority Hong Kong’s Cross-boundary Trucking Subsidy Scheme, available until 31 December 2026.