Emirates SkyCargo has introduced pharma corridors to offer additional protection across selected stations in its network for pharmaceutical cargo.
The airline is working with ground handling partners and other stakeholders across its network in order to ensure that handling operations at these stations are uniform and comply with Emirates SkyCargo’s standards as well as either European Union Good Distribution Practices (GDP) or International Air Transport Association (IATA) Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) Pharma guidelines.
The first 12 stations under the programme include Amsterdam, Brussels, Bengaluru, Cairo, Dublin, Dusseldorf, Hong Kong, Luxembourg, Milan, Rome, Shanghai and Singapore, with more cities are expected to be added over the course of the year.
Emirates divisional senior vice president for cargo, Nabil Sultan says: “We realised that it was essential to work with our partners on the ground at the various stations in order to ensure that pharmaceutical cargo travels under the best conditions not only through our state of the art facilities in Dubai and when onboard our modern aircraft, but right from the point the cargo gets dropped off at the origin airport until it is collected at the destination airport.”
The rollout was led by pharma specialists in the Emirates SkyCargo team working in coordination with cargo service delivery teams and ground handlers locally at stations.
In addition to enhanced staff training, the team undertook a number of engagement and qualification visits in order to prepare for the rollout.
Emirates SkyCargo has also invested in developing White Cover thermal blankets in addition to containers such as the Emirates SkyCargo Cool Dolly or the White Container to guarantee that lifesaving medicines are not compromised.
In 2016, Emirates SkyCargo’s operations at its dual cargo hubs of Dubai International Airport, Dubai World Central and the interconnecting trucking operations were certified to EU GDP guidelines by Bureau Veritas.
