News

Pharma future from ABC

AirBridgeCargo Airlines is promising freight forwarders and their pharmaceutical customers more specialist cool chain solutions in 2019 after demand for its "abc pharma" product rose 60% year-on-year in 2018.

ABC started to develop its specialist pharma services in 2016 and the growth across its international network significantly outpaced the market average increase for pharma volumes last year of 10%.

In 2018, the airline supported its pharma customers by extending its network of IATA CEIV Pharma and Qualified Envirotainer Provider (QEP) certified stations, enlarged the number of temperature-controlled containers it offers to include the latest RAP size units with higher payload capacity, and increased the number of temperature loggers authorised for airfreight transportation. ABC also provided customers with the ability to request specific equipment to monitor and track each shipment’s environment to ensure the integrity of their pharma products throughout the transportation process.

“In 2019 and beyond, we aim to further enhance our abc pharma product as we continue to speak with one language with other cool chain stakeholders. As part of this, we have been helping to better inform our customers and partners by offering specialist training in handling pharmaceutical shipments as part of our continuous learning concept, which trained more than 120 international specialists in 2018. We plan to develop the close co-operation between the three key cool chain partners – the airline, freight forwarders and pharma manufacturers – to ensure we consistently deliver effective logistics solutions which, ultimately, contribute to our shared objective of helping consumers and patients enjoy longer and healthier lives,” stated Fedor Novikov, Global Director, Pharma at AirBridgeCargo Airlines.