Awards and accreditations keep on coming for Hactl...

Pharmaceuticals is an increasingly important part of the total airfreight market. This renewed accreditation means Hactl’s airline and forwarder customers can remain confident that we are fully committed to the high standards needed to attract and retain lucrative pharmaceuticals business.

Third perfect GDP audit

Hactl has successfully passed its World Health Organization (WHO) Good Distribution Practices (GDP) annual surveillance audit, so maintaining its vitally- important GDP accreditation.

Hactl was the first handler in Hong Kong to achieve GDP accreditation, in 2014, covering its provision of handling, logistics and storage services for pharmaceuticals.

The independent audit included full surveillance of Hactl’s staff competence, premises, equipment, processes, quality control system and hygiene standards. The company passed with flying colours, with no deviation events and no non-conformities.

Hactl has created the new position in Quality Assurance Team, within the GDP management structure, to ensure the continued observance and further strengthening of all GDP-governed operations.

Says Hactl Chief Executive Mark Whitehead: “Pharmaceuticals is an increasingly important part of the total airfreight market. This renewed accreditation means Hactl’s airline and forwarder customers can remain confident that we are fully committed to the high standards needed to attract and retain lucrative pharmaceuticals business.”

IGOM’s standardisation of policies and procedures, a uniform minimum level of safety and a standard set of policies and procedures for use in ISAGO (IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations).

Applying IGOM standards is expected to drive costs down by reducing the complexity associated with multiple airline ground operations manuals, standardise training requirements and reduce the incidence of aircraft damage by applying common and robust procedures.

The newly-launched IGOM Registry lists companies which are certified as having demonstrated full compliance with the IGOM procedures.

Hactl Manager - Quality Assurance, Benny Siu, explains: “There are hundreds of separate ground operations manuals in use globally, and we applaud IATA’s initiative in aligning and upgrading all standards in a single document. This is particularly welcome at Hactl, which serves over a hundred different customer airlines.

“We believe Hactl’s IGOM certification is further evidence of its pioneering of new standards in Hong Kong and throughout the industry, and that it’s yet another important differentiator for us.”

Victory at World Air Cargo Awards

On the awards front, Hactl has once again received the Air Cargo Handling Agent of the Year Award, at the World Air Cargo Awards in Shanghai. Hactl also won the award in 2015.

The award was presented to Hactl Executive Director Vivien Lau by Roberto Gilardoni, Senior Manager Freighters Commercial, Etihad Cargo, at a ceremony in Pudong coinciding with this year’s Air Cargo China conference and exhibition. The World Air Cargo Awards are organised by Air Cargo Week, and all results are based on readers’ votes.

Comments Vivien: “As in 2015, we were pleasantly surprised to achieve this accolade. Although Hactl is based only in Hong Kong, the exceptional loyalty and support of our customers has again enabled us to win in competition with handlers whose networks cover the world.”