Fruits and Vegetables

Packaging

1. Fresh fruits and vegetables may be packed in wooden crates, pallets, cardboard boxes, wicker woven baskets, etc.

2. To ensure quality control, the packaging requires vents for adequate ventilation.

3. Packaging material must be strong as packages may be stacked on one another.

4. Packages must be labelled with “This Side Up” (arrow), and “PERISHABLE” label.

5. The net weight of dry ice should not exceed the limit allowed.

6. Recycled packaging is NOT ALLOWED. 

Flowers

Packaging

1. Flowers are usually wrapped in protective papers and placed in a cardboard boxes or wicker woven baskets. Other types of plants (that qualify for transportation) are packaged in the same manner.

2. All packaging materials must be strong enough to allow the stacking of boxes.

3. The packages are all loaded in the upright position, following the direction of “This Way Up” stickers. The “Perishable” label is also included on the sides of the boxes.

Live Fish

Packaging

1. Live Fish can be categorized to:

a. Live Tropical Fish

b. Live Saltwater Fish

c. Coral

2. Live fish should all be kept in watertight containers and treated as “wet cargo” The temperature of within the containers cannot exceed 5°C (41°F)

3. Packing with ice packs:

a.The outer container must be wooden plastic, or cardboard box and the insides laid with waterproof plastic film.

b. Ice cubes used for cooling must be kept in waterproof plastic                 bags and ties with elastic tape.

c. The live fish must be surrounded by ice packs and placed in                 another bag, tightly closed and tied with elastic tape.

d. IMPORTANT- Before bending the neck of the bag, air must be released from the bag as air at lower pressure in the cargo hold would be expanded and could break a package.

e. The whole shipment must be pack into another outer container and closed by the remaining part of the plastic film.

f. The cover of the outer container must be closed and sealed with adhesive tape.

g. On the external side of the container, stickers “This Side Up” or arrow “Top” should be used.

4. Packing with separate ice cubes:

a. The outer container must be wooden plastic, or cardboard box and the insides laid with waterproof plastic film.

b. Ice cubes used to cool and live fish will be packaged together in a watertight plastic bag and tied with elastic band(S)

c. IMPORTANT – Before bending the neck of the bag, air must be released from the bag as air at lower pressure in the cargo hold would be expanded and could break a package.

d. The first bag must be placed in a second plastic bag and the upper part tied the same way as the first bag.

e. The ice cubes and live fish is to be packed in a box and closed by the rest of the plastic film.

f. The cover of the outer container must be closed and sealed with adhesive tape.

g. On the external side of the container, stickers “This Side Up” or arrow “Top” should be used.

Live Crabs

Packaging

1. Live Crabs are to be packed in Styrofoam box.

2. No recycled Styrofoam is allowed to be used.

3. A paper sheet is line on the inside to provide for absorption

4. Frozen mineral water bottles wrapped in newspaper and plastic layer is located inside the box.

5. A maximum of 10 ventilations, with a maximum size of 2 cm diameter for each ventilation hole.

6. Contents must not overflow above the ventilation holes.

7. For the outer packaging, soft fiber board box is used.

8. Seal the Styrofoam box with adhesive / 4 cm with adhesive tape.

9. Use ”This Way Up” and “Live Animal” stickers to label on all four (4) sides of the box.

Meat

Packaging

1. At all stages of processing and handling, strict hygiene rules must be complied with..

2. Meat should be closed, and packed in waterproof material and handled as “Wet Cargo”.

3. Fresh meat should be maintained within a temperature range of 0°C - 5°C (32°F -41°F).

4. Chilled meat should be kept below 5°C (41°F).

Eggs

Packaging

1. The shipper must indicate if the eggs are for incubation or consumption.

2. Incubation eggs are fertilized egg containing a live, dormant embryo. Fertilized egg is incubated as soon as the incubation process starts in it.

3. The eggs are usually laid on dividing cells resembling honeycombs and packed in a cardboard or wooden box. Packaging materials must be strong enough to withstand stacking.

4. To ensure quality, ensure transportation time is at minimum.

to confirm type of eggs carried

Wet Cargo

Definition: Shipments containing liquids or shipment by their nature may produce liquids, and which are not subject to the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations shall be designated as ‘Wet Cargo’

Type of ‘Wet cargo’ :

a. Liquid in a water proof container

b. Wet materials that are not packed in watertight containers, such   as fish or shellfish packed with ice (except for live fish / other     seafood)

c. Fresh or frozen meat

d. Fresh or frozen fish

e. Fresh or frozen seafood

f. Fresh vegetables and fruits

g. Other goods that may produce or emit liquid.

Each piece of wet cargo must not exceed 90 x 70 x 50 cm in size, 25 kg in weight. Any ‘Wet shipment’ exceed the above limitation may be allowed subject to the type of packaging required for specific shipment with prior approval from the TAA.

Packaging

Perishable cargo that use of dry ice (Carbon dioxide solid UN 1845) as refrigerant is subject to be approved by Cargo Department.

1. Watertight containers shall be in accordance with the General Packaging Requirements of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations & Wet Cargo Packaging Requirement by Airline Operator.

2. The packaging should be constructed to withstand stacking to levels specified by the carrier.

3. The thickness/ Density of Styrofoam 30mm (1st quality)

4. Other containers shall be constructed of good quality waterproof materials. RECYCLE Containers / Styrofoam are STRICTLY PROHIBITED

5. Only Ice packed in the plastic bottle may be use inside of Styrofoam. Ice gel is preferable to be use.

6. They shall be also constructed to withstand stacking to levels specified by the carrier.

7. The packaging must be consisted of Styrofoam box thickness of 30mm and the inner packaging MUST consist of two layers of plastic sheet with the thickness of 0.08 mm. Outer packaging must consist of one layers of plastic sheet with the thickness of 0.08 mm.

8. Absorbent material must be placed inside of inner packing as the absorption before sealing the packaging. Any other method of placing the absorbent shall be assessed and approved by Airline.

9. The outer packaging of the Styrofoam must be sealed with the adhesive 4 cm width gummed tape.

10. To protect cargo floor of the aircraft from leakage problem, the floor of cargo compartment MUST be covered by plastic sheet before all cargo loaded into cargo compartment.

11. Proper ‘Wet Cargo’ sticker must be affixed on the sealed Styrofoam box.

Documentation

1. It is essential that air waybills for wet cargo shipments are completed and accurate in all aspects.

2. The air waybill must show the full name of the shipper and consignee, their full address and telephone number.

3. In the “Handling Information” box, only the handling information is to be inserted.

4. The entry should be clear and concise as possible and understandable by all parties involved in handling the shipments.

5. If the shipments are accompanied by health certificates or other official permits, these should be listed as accompanying documents in the handling information box.

6. These documents should be securely attached to the air waybill and not enclosed with the cargo.

7. The “Nature and Quantity of Goods; box should have an accurate description such as ‘Chilled Meat (Lamb)’ or ‘Fish-Frozen’ and not general description such as meat or fish.

Labels and Marking

Thai AirAsia uses the following stickers to label the perishable or wet cargo packages.