WEEKLY NEWS


and automated escalation alerts ensure issues are addressed instantly, maintaining high service reliability even under pressure,” said Brun.


Digital twins and downtime planning What sets Liege apart may be its appetite for simulation. The airport has developed a Digital Twin that models disruption scenarios - from extreme weather to equipment failure - in an attempt to pre-empt breakdowns in the chain. “Our contingency framework, backup refrigeration systems, protocols


risk-escalation and rapid-response teams ensure


immediate corrective action,” Brun said. “Even during global crises, LGG remains fully operational and responsive to pharma industry demands.” Still, no simulation accounts for real-world variability in airline


LIEGE AIRPORT EXPANDS PHARMA LOGISTICS WITH €500M INVESTMENT


BY Anastasiya SIMSEK


AS global demand for pharmaceutical airfreight continues to grow, Liege Airport is leaning into its cold chain infrastructure, betting on predictive tech, regulatory alignment, and direct ramp access to compete for high-value, time-sensitive shipments. Its 10,000sq m pharma facility, compliant with GDP, WHO and IATA CEIV Pharma standards,


features temperature-controlled 02


zones, integrated monitoring and real-time alerting. But as supply chains become more fragmented and customer expectations more precise, hard infrastructure alone no longer sets airports apart. “LGG manages the cold chain with precision from door to door,”


said Frédéric Brun, Head of Commercial Cargo & Logistics. “LGG Tracking, combined with IoT and GPS technologies, provides real-


time geolocation and temperature monitoring across the airport ecosystem.” That visibility is extended across partners through LGG


Connect, a digital cargo community platform used to coordinate with ground handlers, forwarders and airlines. “Our specialised teams follow strict, validated protocols and


receive continuous training,” Brun said. “We extend compliance monitoring across all stakeholders… to ensure seamless multimodal integrity.” In reality, few airports have full operational control beyond their


own perimeter - especially during disruptions. Liege attempts to mitigate this with escalation alerts, express lanes, and direct warehouse-to-apron transfers that reduce exposure time. During peak periods, dedicated pharma teams are deployed to prioritise sensitive shipments.


“Real-time milestone tracking


performance or inconsistent handovers from third parties — persistent pain points across pharma logistics. Liege’s approach leans on digital tools and physical design to of fset those risks, but standardisation across actors remains a challenge industry-wide. Customs is often another friction point, but Liege has pushed for streamlining.


“We ensure strict biosecurity and product


integrity during customs clearance through fast, fully digital customs processes supported by LGG Tracking,” said Torsten Wefers, Vice President Sales & Marketing. Sensitive shipments are routed via direct apron access to minimise tarmac time during inspection.


Expansion plans target next-gen healthcare logistics Pharmaceutical cargo is now central to Liege’s long-term strategy. The airport is investing €500 million through its CargoLand programme, which includes 38,000 m² of new warehouse capacity — part of it reserved for pharma and perishables. “Enhanced digital systems,


including our Digital Twin, AI-


supported planning and multimodal integration, will strengthen our ability to meet the rising global demand for healthcare products,” said Brun. Innovation is also built into the development roadmap. Liege is


working with temperature-control technology providers like NSI and running over 30 digitalisation projects. “We continuously test and adopt new technologies, including AI-driven monitoring and advanced IoT-enabled solutions,” Brun added. Pilot programmes around passive and active packaging are


underway, and testing infrastructure is being developed to support validation. “Our commitment


to experimentation and


co-development ensures that LGG remains a pioneer in sensitive- cargo management,” said Brun.


Did You Know ? MARTIN SCHRÖDER BY Michael SALES


FOLLOWING World War II, aircraft design advanced rapidly. The Boeing 307 Stratoliner, which entered service in 1940, was the first commercial airliner with a pressurised cabin, a major leap for passenger comfort and safety. It could fly above adverse weather, and its pressurised cabin allowed for higher, faster cruising speeds compared to contemporaries. The Douglas DC-3, which entered service


in the 1930s, was a workhorse of the 1940s. It


transitioned from military transport


during the war to civilian passenger service afterwards.


The Lockheed Constellation


and Douglas DC-6, introduced in the mid- to-late 1940s, offered higher speeds and longer range. This era became known as the “Golden Age” of air travel, marked by


aircraft that were faster, larger, and more comfortable


than their predecessors,


eventually to be superseded by the “jet age”. Alongside these advances in aircraft


technology, the 1950s and 1960s saw a revolution


in aviation entrepreneurship.


Key figures included Freddie Laker, one of the first to adopt the low-cost concept; Joe Sutter, father of the Boeing 747 jumbo; Juan Terry Trippe, founder of Pan American World Airways; and Martin Schröder, who in 1958 created Martin’s Air Charter (MAC), which later became Martinair. Under Schröder’s leadership, the fledgling


company grew steadily, becoming a key player in both passenger and cargo transport. He firmly believed that air travel should be accessible to all, and this vision inspired his life’s work. The airline developed a mixed fleet tailored to specific operations, including the


Boeing 747-400F, McDonnell Douglas MD-11, Boeing 767 (for passenger and cargo use), the DC-10, and Airbus A320. Schröder’s determination


and foresight shaped


Martinair’s development and facilitated close cooperation with KLM, eventually forming Air France-KLM Martinair Cargo. The airline was renamed Martinair Holland


in 1966 and expanded into major passenger and cargo markets, including services to the United States in 1967. Through its history, Martinair exemplified


innovation, fleet adaptability, and strategic partnerships,


both passenger and cargo aviation. leaving a lasting legacy in


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ACW 22 DECEMBER 2025


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