Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) has opened a new pharmaceutical facility at Copenhagen Airport.

WFS said its pharmaceutical facility features a 1,500 square meter building with temperature-controlled storage areas and provision for acceptance, offloading, pre-storage, build-up, storage of loose shipments and pre-built pallets with a capacity of up to 300 Euro-pallets.

In a statement, the ground handling provider said it began the upgrade of its Cophenhagen facilities 18 months earlier and has since seen a significant increase in pharmaceutical volumes at the airport.

“Pharma is a big focus because both Denmark and Sweden have important pharmaceutical production sites located in or around the Oresund region and Copenhagen is a natural international gateway for these products,” said Dan Parler, WFS senior vice president commercial cargo – EMEAA.

"By increasing our commitment, we also hope pharma volumes still being trucked to other airports will now see WFS is offering a more local, high quality and cost-efficient solution and this will also contribute to the continued growth of the airport," he added.

Increased pharma facility investment

WFS has been increasing its investments in pharma handling over the past two years. Earlier this month, WFS also opened a new €10 million (US$11 million) pharma center Paris Charles de Gaulle. 

The cargo handler said that its Copenhagen cargo handling footprint increased to 13,900 square meters as of September 1, following the opening of another 4,700 square meter freight center at the airport.

"Pharmaceutical products are among the highest valued commodities to be carried by air freight and there are some very strict requirements to be met when it comes to temperature control, speed, stability and careful handling. These requirements mean that airlines and handling companies must have 100% focus on processes and physical facilities whether goods are handled according to GDP or CEIV standards,"  said Morten Mortensen, CPH director of airline sales & route development.

"WFS has taken an important step towards meeting the requirements," he added.