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Aug 27, 2020 at 7:00 AMFrankfurt Airport offers the best infrastructure for pharmaceutical transports. Fraport and Lufthansa Cargo are well-prepared for the distribution of a Corona vaccine. For this purpose, a temperature-controlled handling warehouse covering around 12,000 m2 is available at the airport.
(Frankfurt/Main) At Frankfurt Airport (FRA), around 120,000 tons of vaccines, medicines, and other pharmaceutical products were handled in 2019. This makes FRA the leader in Europe. In this position, airport operator Fraport and Lufthansa Cargo, together with other partners in the Air Cargo Community[1], are well-prepared for the handling of a potential Corona vaccine.
Currently, around 12,000 square meters of temperature-controlled handling capacities with direct apron access are available at Frankfurt Airport. Just over two-thirds of this is located in the state-of-the-art Lufthansa Cargo Pharma Hub. An additional 2,000 square meters are available on the airport premises before commissioning. These areas meet international and European requirements.
Fraport Meets the Requirements
For example, Fraport has been meeting the requirements of the CEIV Pharma certification[2] from the airline association IATA since 2018, as have eleven other service companies operating in Frankfurt. Additionally, freight forwarders and airlines comply with the EU-GDP standard[3]. Thus, more than 75 percent of the transport routes at the airport are certified. Furthermore, Fraport currently uses 20 state-of-the-art temperature-controlled transporters to ensure the necessary temperature of goods even when transported across the apron.
“Frankfurt Airport offers the ideal infrastructural conditions for the handling of pharmaceutical goods. We are closely monitoring the current research for a Corona vaccine. When the time comes, we will do our utmost to support our partners in the distribution of vaccines and medicines,” says Max Philipp Conrady, Head of Central Cargo Infrastructure at Fraport. “We have already demonstrated at the beginning of the year that we, as a cargo community, can make an essential contribution to the supply of the population when handling urgently needed protective equipment and sometimes life-saving pharmaceutical goods.”
Lufthansa Cargo Well Prepared Too
Lufthansa Cargo is also well-prepared to fly a potential Corona vaccine around the world. With extensive destinations and 31 Pharma stations worldwide, all of which are to be CEIV Pharma certified by the end of 2021, the cargo airline has an excellent network. This allows temperature-sensitive goods, such as vaccines or medicines, to be transported to their destination as quickly as possible. “The last few months have clearly shown us how important well-functioning supply chains are, especially in times of crisis. Even when it comes to transporting a vaccine against the Corona virus, Lufthansa Cargo will do everything possible to enable rapid distribution by air,” says Jörg Bodenröder, Head of Handling Specials at Lufthansa Cargo. As one of the first air freight carriers focusing on the transport of temperature-sensitive goods, Lufthansa Cargo draws on many years of experience in the field of pharmaceutical transport. With nearly all available transport options on the market, customers also have access to a wide-ranging product portfolio that can accommodate almost all requirements.
[1] The Air Cargo Community Frankfurt e.V. is an association to promote the air freight location Frankfurt. Its over 50 members include representatives from all areas of the air freight process chain. The association has various specialist groups that represent the entire service spectrum of companies, institutions, and associations.
[2] The international classification CEIV (Center of Excellence for Independent Validators in Pharmaceutical Logistics) confirms reliable handling of time-critical and temperature-sensitive goods. The global standard was developed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). This supports airlines, handling companies, and freight forwarders in complying with internationally valid rules and standards for pharmaceutical goods.
[3] In 2013, the EU Commission adopted the “Guidelines for Good Distribution Practice of Human Medicines,” short GDP (Good Distribution Practice). These guidelines apply to wholesalers and all companies involved in a supply chain. They are also mandatory for service providers in air freight.
Photo: © Fraport
