Cathay Cargo becomes launch customer for Unilode’s fire containment cover leasing service

Cathay Cargo has become the launch customer for Unilode’s fire containment cover leasing service.

Unilode will provide the cargo carrier with a fully managed leasing solution that gives access to certified Fire Containment Covers when they are needed.

Unilode said the solution, which was launched earlier this year, includes certified and fully maintained fire containment covers; availability throughout its network; end-to-end lifecycle management; rapid deployment and ongoing technical support.

Tim Wong, general manager cargo service delivery at Cathay Cargo, said: “Safety is at the heart of everything we do at Cathay Cargo, and we are continually looking for innovative solutions that strengthen our operations while delivering the highest levels of service to our customers.”

Unilode added that the leasing service enables airlines to optimise fleet availability, reduce capital investment and benefit from a fully managed global service backed by its “industry-leading maintenance, repair and logistics capabilities”.

Unilode launched its fire containment cover leasing service as the transportation of lithium batteries and other high-risk goods increases.

A UL Standards & Engagement (ULSE) report published earlier this year shows that the air cargo industry has seen a 40% increase in the number of thermal runaway incidents since 2021.

In 2021, there were 10 incidents, the ULSE report found, but this had increased to 14 incidents by 2025. There were 13 incidents in 2022, 13 in 2023 and 15 in 2024.

The researcher described the rise as “alarming” and said it mirrored increasing consumer demand for low-cost, battery-powered products.

“Lithium batteries power modern life, but they also present a growing and preventable risk in air cargo,” said Bob McClelland, transportation safety lead at UL Standards & Engagement.

“The rise in incidents is not random — it reflects identifiable gaps in battery quality, shipper awareness, regulatory oversight, and supply chain accountability. These are systemic weaknesses that can and must be better addressed if we want to reverse this troubling trend.”