SEKO Logistics’ opens new Dublin facility for Peli BioThermal
SEKO Logistics and Peli BioThermal are targeting a bigger share of Ireland’s growing pharmaceutical market with SEKO’s opening of a new 30,000 sq ft facility in Dublin. ➤
SkyTeam Cargo alliance launches Covid-19 vaccine programme
Global airline cargo alliance, SkyTeam Cargo, launches V EXCELLENCE, a dedicated programme for shipping COVID-19 vaccines. The alliance’s 12 members tapped their years of combined experience in pharmaceutical shipping in developing the new service. The ➤
AF-KLM Cargo unveils new Covid-19 vaccine service
Air France KLM Martinair Cargo sets up a customer COVID Service Centre dedicated to managing all Covid-19 vaccine shipments. ➤
Sonoco ThermoSafe, Unilode sign pharma ULD agreement
Sonoco ThermoSafe and Unilode Aviation Solutions partner on the maintenance, repair, and handling of Sonoco ThermoSafe’s passive bulk temperature-controlled containers. ➤
One year since Emirates SkyCargo began ‘preighter’ ops
Emirates SkyCargo marks one year since it began operating cargo-only flights using passenger aircraft. ➤
Turkish Cargo uplifts Covid-19 vaccines for UNICEF
Turkish Cargo in cooperation with Kuehne + Nagel, delivers 1.7 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine supplied by UNICEF from India to Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. ➤
Cargo faint bright spot in Cathay Pacific’s darkest year
Amidst the worst loss in its 70-year history, posting a 2020 net loss of HKD 21.65 billion (USD 2.79 billion), Cathay Pacific Airways eked out some tiny joy from cargo, with revenue up 16.2 per cent. ➤
Dnata reaches milestone with over 5,000 ‘preighter’ flights
Dnata achieves a cargo milestone in Dubai (DXB) handling over 5,000 cargo-in-cabin flights comprising 50,000 tonnes since March last year. ➤
Cathay delivers first Fosun Pharma/BioNTech vaccines to HKG
The first batch of one million Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccines, co-developed by Fosun Pharma and BioNTech, to be supplied to Hong Kong were delivered by Cathay Pacific from Frankfurt on Saturday. ➤
MASkargo flies Chinese Sinovac vaccines to Malaysia
Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) cargo subsidiary MABkargo (MASkargo) flew in the first batch of China’s Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines to Malaysia over the weekend. ➤
SIA gains CEIV Fresh cert, launches perishables product
Singapore Airlines (SIA) launches new THRUFRESH perishables product following its IATA CEIV Fresh certification. ➤
India’s SpiceJet launches scheduled freighters to Singapore
SpiceXpress, the dedicated cargo arm of India-based SpiceJet, launches scheduled cargo flights connecting Mumbai (BOM), Bengaluru (BLR) and Chennai (MAA) with Singapore (SIN). ➤
UNICEF partners 16 carriers on Covid-19 vaccine initiative
The UNICEF Humanitarian Airfreight Initiative has been formed with 16 global airlines to secure the worldwide transport of vaccines, and other life-saving supplies.
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AF-KLM uplifts first vaccine shipments to Bonaire, Aruba
Air France KLM Martinair Cargo uplifts its first shipment of Covid-19 vaccines from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to Bonaire and Aruba in the Caribbean, part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. ➤
Pharma.Aero picks up new cool chain packaging members
Pharma.Aero gains new associate partners with the addition of three cold chain packaging solutions providers. Cold Chain Technologies, Sonoco ThermoSafe, and Tower Cold Chain Solutions have all joined the pharma-focused industry association. “The market knowledge ➤
China Airlines launches ultra-low temp vaccine service
China Airlines launches Ultra-Low Temperature Service as it continues to grow its pharma capabilities including IATA CEIV Pharma Certification. The only airline in Taiwan to have obtained international pharmaceutical cold chain logistics certification, the new ➤
Korean Air, SkyCell partner on hybrid container leasing
Korean Air Cargo and SkyCell sign an agreement to lease SkyCell’s hybrid containers. ➤
DHL expands medical, pharma logistics capacity in Germany
DHL Global Forwarding has expanded its Leipzig Life Sciences & Healthcare (LSH) facility by approximately 2,500 sqm. The centre is located close to Leipzig Airport (LGG) and houses state-of-the-art equipment for storing and handling temperature-controlled ➤
Astral Aviation’s new B767-200F opens Nairobi-Sharjah service
Astral Aviation is deploying its newly-acquired B767-200 freighter on the Nairobi (NBO) – Sharjah (SHJ) route, with effect from 3 February. ➤
Frankfurt Cargo Services handles first Covid vaccine shipments
Frankfurt Cargo Services (FCS) handles its first shipments of Covid-19 vaccines from German biotechnology company BioNTech as the airport gears up to facilitate vaccine shipments. ➤
SpiceJet adds two more wide-body freighters to its fleet
SpiceJet inducts two more wide-body aircraft – a B767F and A330F – to its cargo fleet. With the latest induction SpiceXpress, the airline’s cargo arm, will have a dedicated fleet of 19 freighters, including five wide-bodies. ➤
CEVA joins Hope Consortium for Covid-19 vaccine distribution
CEVA Logistics joins the Hope Consortium – the umbrella organisation of a UAE-based public-private partnership aimed at supporting global COVID-19 vaccine distribution. ➤
SpiceJet strengthens vaccine delivery network with AMD
As India launches what is set to be one of the largest mass Covid-19 vaccination drives in the world, SpiceJet and its cargo arm SpiceExpress have added another airport partner in the country. ➤
Pandemic pulls Schiphol’s 2020 cargo down 8%
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS), in the midst of another shake-up of its cargo division reports a -8.0 per cent cargo volume decline for 2020, year-on-year at the hands of the Covid-19 pandemic. ➤
Air Canada plays key role in getting Covid vaccine to Canadians
Air Canada Cargo says it is playing an important role in transporting COVID-19 vaccines to Canada in partnership with supply chain partners. “We are seeing shipments of vaccines and vaccine consumables being transported by Air ➤
IAG Cargo uplifts over a million doses of Covid-19
IAG Cargo transports over a million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine worldwide through its Constant Climate hubs in London Heathrow, Dublin and Madrid. ➤
MASkargo begins new year with Covid-19 test kit charter
MAB Kargo (MASkargo) makes its first charter flight for the year transporting approximately 20 tonnes of Covid-19 test kits from Seoul to Jakarta. ➤
Turkish Cargo brings Sinovac Covid vaccine to Turkey
Turkish Cargo carries the first batch of the Covid-19 vaccines procured from China’s Sinovac, to Turkey. ➤
Cathay CEIV Pharma re-certified as Covid vaccine begins moving
Cathay Pacific Cargo’s eco-system at Hong Kong airport (HKG) is now re-certified under IATA’s CEIV Pharma accreditation, as the initial doses of the Covid-19 vaccine begin trickling move around the world. ➤
Singapore Changi air hub primed for Covid vaccine distribution
Singapore Changi Airport’s air cargo hub is ready for the transportation and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, says the Changi Ready Taskforce. ➤
LATAM’s first foray to Doha with peak season perishables
The LATAM Group completes its first service to Doha, Qatar using a B777-300ER passenger aircraft reconfigured for cargo use. ➤
Hackers launch sophisticated attack on Covid vaccine supply chains
State-sponsored hackers have undertaken a sophisticated email phishing attack on coronavirus supply chains, IBM said in research released Thursday. ➤
Cainiao partners Ethiopian for China’s Covid-19 vaccine transport
Cainiao Smart Logistics Network is partnering Ethiopian Airlines to launch a special cold chain air freight solution for temperature-controlled medicines from Shenzhen Airport (SCX), including Covid-19 vaccines. ➤
Air France KLM Martinair Cargo partners with SkyCell
SkyCell and Air France KLM Martinair Cargo sign a partnership agreement to expand access to SkyCell’s hybrid containers in supply chains, enabling further safety and sustainability solutions for pharmaceutical shipments. SkyCell says the new agreement ➤
UPS steps up dry ice production, secures portable freezers ahead of Covid vaccine
UPS enhances its ultra-cold pharma capabilities in preparation for the massive distribution efforts for COVID-19 vaccines in the coming months. ➤
Pelican BioThermal extends deep frozen packaging offering to -80°C
Pelican BioThermal expands its temperature controlled packaging offering to include deep frozen temperatures required in at least one of the Covid-19 vaccines. ➤
Pharma.Aero welcomes three new full members
Pharma.Aero enlarges its membership base with Dubai-based logistics and transportation services company First Priority Cargo, global 4PL BDP International, and Lima-based ground handler SAASA (Servicios Aeroportuarios Andinos). Over the course of the last two months, ➤
Va-Q-tec signs major thermal container deal for Covid vaccine
Va-Q-tec strikes a comprehensive agreement with an un-named global pharmaceutical manufacturer for the international distribution of a Covid-19 vaccine in Q1 2021. ➤
Turkish Cargo transports Chinese COVID-19 vaccine to Brazil
The first shipment of seven temperature-controlled Envirotainer active containers were safely transported from Beijing (PEK) to South America’s largest city of Sao Paulo (GRU) Brazil, with a connection flight at Istanbul (ISL). In all Brazil ➤
Covid vaccine supply chains could see armed escorts: TAPA
Pharmaceutical supply chains are set to face their biggest security challenge in history as Covid-19 vaccines inch closer to reality. ➤
Volga-Dnepr Group strengthens healthcare team ahead of vaccine
Volga-Dnepr Group strengthens its Global Healthcare Team to support its world-wide pharma customers ahead of the Covid-19 vaccine. The team will be led by Yulia Celetaria, healthcare director who will oversee operations, including alignment of ➤
ATC Aviation ready for global vaccine distribution race
ATC Aviation Services, the Frankfurt-based GSSA, says it is ready for the start of Covid-19 vaccine distribution following the work of its internal task force. The task force is headed by Volker Dunkake, ATC’s charter ➤
LATAM Cargo carries out pharma move FRA-GRU
LATAM Cargo carries out a substantial shipment of pharmaceutical products from Europe to South America. The shipment for Hellmann Worldwide Logistics departed from Frankfurt (FRA), Germany and arrived at Guarulhos (GRU), Brazil. The 10 Envirotainer ➤
Frankfurt Cargo Services doubles-down on pharma certification
Following closely on the heals of successfully achieving IATA CEIV certification, FCS Frankfurt Cargo Services is now also officially EU ‘good distribution practice’ (GDP) certified. The GDP certification for medical products for human use marks ➤
WFS adds GDP to its existing CEIV cert at Paris CDG
Worldwide Flight Services’ (WFS) Pharma Centre at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) has been awarded Good Distribution Practice (GDP) certification, in preparation for Covid-19 vaccines. At the start of 2020, the Centre, part of ➤
IAG Cargo restarts key London-Tokyo service
IAG Cargo has restarted its three times weekly direct service from London (LHR) to Tokyo (NRT) after being paused due to the global Covid-19 crisis. The year-round service facilitates the flow of pharmaceutical goods and ➤
Emirates SkyCentral to function as dedicated COVID-19 vaccine hub
Emirates SkyCargo is stepping up its readiness to handle the logistical complexities of distributing a potential COVID-19 vaccine by creating the world’s first dedicated airside cargo hub. The carrier says it is taking a global ➤
Cool Chain Assn, IATA sign MoU as world awaits vaccine
The Cool Chain Association (CCA) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) supporting the drive for the safe, sustainable transport of perishables and pharmaceuticals. CCA and IATA have ➤
TIACA, Pharma.Aero highlight “concerning” lack of vaccine readiness
TIACA and Pharma.Aero express “strong concern” over the current state of air cargo industry readiness for the coming COVID-19 vaccine transport. ➤
IAG Cargo restarts five key African destinations
IAG Cargo continues to expand its network and re-open more routes with a return to five key African cities from London Heathrow. The UK-based carrier group has now restarted regular services to Lagos, Cairo, Cape ➤