Cathay Cargo, one of the four lines of business of the Cathay Group, is proud to have been awarded the Innovatopia Award in Air Cargo Safety & Security at the Air Cargo Forum India (ACFI) Awards 2025. This prestigious recognition underscores Cathay’s continued commitment to ensuring the highest standards of safety, security, and operational excellence across its global cargo operations.
Cathay Regional Head of Cargo for South Asia, the Middle East and Africa Rajesh Menon said: “We are truly honoured to be recognised with the Innovatopia Award in Air Cargo Safety & Security. At Cathay Cargo, safety and security are more than just compliance metrics — they are fundamental to how we operate. With our AI-led safety enhancements and digital innovations, we are setting new benchmarks for cargo handling globally. This award is a tribute to the relentless efforts of our team and reinforces our vision of delivering trusted, secure, and future-ready cargo solutions.”
Cathay Cargo and Cathay Cargo Terminal in Hong Kong hold the complete suite of IATA CEIV certifications, including Pharma, Fresh, Live Animals and Lithium Batteries, underscoring Cathay’s ability to safely and efficiently handle special cargo. The terminal is also the first ground-handling organisation in Asia to successfully achieve IATA SeMS certification with Operating Status, the highest tier for a first-time certification.
To ensure consistent adherence to safety regulations and customer requirements, Cathay Cargo runs rigorous training programmes for staff and ground handlers. Its Cargo Agent Operations Programme (CAOP) promotes compliance in the declaration and physical handling of e-commerce shipments, especially those involving lithium batteries.
Cathay Cargo Terminal has taken a pioneering leap in workplace safety by becoming Hong Kong’s first air cargo terminal to integrate AI with its CCTV infrastructure. Through its partnership with AI safety technology leader Intenseye, Cathay Cargo Terminal now monitors and detects real-time risks such as:
- Missing personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Unsafe vehicle proximity
- Walkway violations
- Work-at-height incidents
- Unattended shipments at truck docks (via custom-built alerts)
This AI-led system is designed with privacy-first principles through Intenseye’s Ethical UI and plays a vital role in supporting Cathay Cargo Terminal’s vision of zero-harm operations.
The terminal’s robust safety culture was further validated with five wins at the Hong Kong Occupational Safety and Health Awards in 2024, including Gold for Safety Management System.
Earlier this year, Cathay Cargo became the first air cargo operator to implement the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) ONE Record data standard in select daily operations ahead of IATA’s January 2026 target, underscoring its commitment to leading digital transformation in air cargo.
Cathay Cargo continues to embrace digital transformation to uplift its workforce and improve the overall customer journey. Tools like the digital hub enable timely, responsive interactions with customers, while the Cargo Connect app streamlines frontline operations by giving staff instant access to key information including rosters, assignments, and flight schedules.
