Etihad keeps its cool at hot airports

Transporting pharmaceuticals, livestock and perishable goods is a delicate business in the Middle East, where summer temperatures can peak in the high 40s.

The most common method to counteract the extreme heat is the use of diesel-powered dollies that incorporate cooling units. However, these are expensive to operate and may not meet performance requirements.

Now, Etihad Cargo and the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology have joined forces to develop a new hybrid cool dolly to transport temperature-sensitive cargo from aircraft to warehouse.

Unveiled the at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, the dolly uses thermo-electronic module technologies, modified compressor units and a custom-made power bank that minimises power consumption.

The units can also be attached to solar panels for sustainable recharging, ensuring that the temperature can be regulated, even during power outages.