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Issue 6 2019 - FBJNA


launched its campaign as


the pharma hub airport. As more companies became IATA Pharma certified, the airport has become even more active in promoting itself as a viable hub for transporting cold chain pharmaceuticals. The numbers speak for


themselves. Last year, MIA hit a record both in terms of value and volume. “In 2018, MIA saw $5.5 billion worth of pharmaceuticals come through the airport both in terms of exports and imports,” Nares said. “In terms of volume, 18,318 tons of pharmaceuticals, which is equal to 16.62 million kilos, made it through the airport last year – mostly on the export side, but some on import side.” Nares admits that MIA


is strong with cargo, but this is a significant amount. “It translates to about 160 widebody 777 freighters full of pharma products last year,” Nares said.


freight forwarders are looking to partner with companies with the CEIV Pharma certification because it lowers the risk.” Due to its success and


relationship BRU, officials at both airports decided to create an initiative called Pharma. Aero that focuses on improving pharma handling and quality in the air cargo industry worldwide. With a vision to achieve reliable end-to-end air transport for pharmaceutical cargo, Pharma.Aero focus on pharmaceutical shippers and all industry stakeholders


Emirates SkyCargo’s Cool Dollies. (Emirates SkyCargo photo.) “The most important thing


about this association is the composition of its members,” Nares said. “We have seven major airports around the world (BRU, MIA, Changi Airport Singapore, Sharjah Airport in the UAE, Mumbai International Airport, Hong Kong International Airport, and Edmonton International Airport), all of which have a common goal to work together along with many airlines and ground handling companies and freight


forwarders, and


most important pharma manufacturers such as Pfizer, Merck, and JNJ. All work on projects. All of us sit down together and listen to concerns for transporting pharma by air. Together we work on solutions to improve pharma transport process.” In March of this year, key


strategic logistics service providers within the community at Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport became CEIV certified by IATA for successfully completing the rigorous process and meeting global standards set by IATA for handing pharmaceuticals at airports. Founding members are dnata cargo USA (ground handling and cold chain solutions); SCL Cold Chain (refrigerated trucking); B.I.G. Logistics (warehousing and distribution); and Expeditors (international freight forwarding). This makes DFW is the


In 2018, MIA saw $5.5 billion worth of pharmaceuticals come through the airport both in terms of exports and imports. (MDAD photo.)


In 2015, when MIA was first


recognized as pharma hub airport, it had $2.9 billion in pharma products. “Since then we’ve seen 86% growth,” he revealed. “A lot of that growth has to do with getting our air cargo community CEIV Pharma certified. More shippers and


who embrace the IATA CEIV program. Pharma.Aero members,


of which there are some 35 today, foster route certification/ development of pharma trade lanes, implement best practices and share market knowledge and expertise.


second and one of only two airports in North America with a CEIV Pharma Community covering all links in the airport supply chain. “The certification brings DFW


one step closer to establishing a


pharma gateway where


manufacturers, shippers, and other stakeholders can send their premium shipments and be assured that our processes will maintain product integrity,” said John Ackerman, Executive


///AIR CARGO PHARMA


Vice President of Global Strategy and Development at DFW Airport. DFW’s


cold chain facility


operates 24/7 with capabilities to provide quality care for pharmaceutical freight, which consists of


temperature- and


time-sensitive products. The 37,000-sq. foot space has two dedicated pharma chambers, three multi-temperature zones and a 15,000-sq. foot area for airside refrigeration. Additional features include a refrigerated dock with truck doors, dry cargo space to handle a variety of customer needs and a certified customs screening facility for imports and exports.


Heathrow. “The IATA CEIV certification


process and procedures mean that we can now provide consistency right across our network,” emphasized Egerton. “This ensures that we are safeguarding and transporting pharmaceutical products with the highest level of excellence and in line with international and national compliance improvement.” In addition to certification, Cargo approved the the Envirotainer


Delta carriage of


RAP e2 in Delta’s domestic and international widebody aircraſt. “This container is ideal for


“The cornerstone of our strategy


was to encourage these tenants to become IATA CEIV certified.” – Jimmy Nares, MDAD.


DFW’s certification is


significant because its mid- continent location is accessible by every major U.S. market within four hours or less by air. This can greatly help with air transport of pharma products that are time- and temperature- sensitive.


Cargo Carriers Expand Services


Delta Cargo received its CEIV certification in July 2017 and has since seen strong demand for this service. “With the CEIV certification


Delta has created the first CEIV Pharma trans-Atlantic network connecting Atlanta with other existing CEIV Pharma certified partners, stations and handlers in Amsterdam, Brussels, Milan, Paris and Rome,” reported Debbie Egerton, Delta Cargo spokesperson. Delta Cargo operates in


partnership with Air France- KLM, which are also CEIV certified,


in addition to


Virgin Atlantic Cargo, which opened a Pharma zone at a joint warehouse in London


shipments requiring strict temperature control between +0°C and +20°C,” she said. “The approval of the Envirotainer RAP e2 enhances Delta’s Pharma product offering, which is available in Pharma 1 locations around the world. The active container expands flight options beyond those using the Envirotainer RAP t2, as it does not require dry ice as a coolant. It also provides significantly more capacity for goods than the Envirotainer RKN e1.” Meanwhile continuous


improvement and innovation remains at the core of Delta Cargo’s ethos. “We are looking


to expand our Pharma station network as well as the number of stations that have CEIV certifications,” Egerton said. “This year, Delta has expanded the cooler facilities at its Atlanta (ATL) warehouse and there are plans to expand the cooler facilities at the New York-JFK warehouse.” Tom Grubb, Global Head


of Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare, American Airlines Cargo (AACargo), revealed that American continues to see increased interest and inquiries from both forwarder customers and pharmaceutical manufacturers who rely on transportation by air. “The critical nature of these


medicines and treatments demand not only the quality handling, which must be demonstrated with any mode of transport, but specifically by air when time is of the essence,” he said. “This has continued to result in increasing traffic volumes even though other verticals may be not as robust at this moment. “This is a particularly salient


point as the sector continues to transition from more traditional, chemical-based medications to personalized medicines: biologics such as genetic treatments, living cell technologies, vaccines, etc. for which time is of the essence. All these factors have resulted in continuous traffic expansion year-on-year,” Grubb said. Consequently, AACargo has


made significant commitments to and investments in the temperature-controlled sector for pharmaceuticals and healthcare. “As an example,


Philadelphia


(PHL) is the location of our global pharmaceutical hub; a dedicated, 25,000-square- foot, purpose-built facility, for pharmaceutical and healthcare handling,” Grubb outlined. Additional infrastructure is


positioned across the world at many locations including Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), New York (JFK), Miami (MIA), San Juan (SJU), London Heathrow (LHR), Paris (CDG), and Frankfurt (FRA). “Due


to the increasing


requirements and interest in our


program expressed


customers, American reviews and evaluates our ExpediteTC° program from n um er o us


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