AirBridgeCargo Airlines saw its abc pharma product grow by 60% year-on-year in 2018 and is planning more enhancements this year.

According to ABC, the growth significantly outpaced the market average increase of about 10% for pharma volumes last year.

In 2018, the airline expanded its network of IATA CEIV Pharma and Qualified Envirotainer Provider certified stations, began to offer RAP temperature-controlled units with higher payload capacity, and increased the number of temperature loggers authorized for air freight. ABC also provided customers with the ability to request specific equipment to monitor and track each shipment’s conditions 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,” said Fedor Novikov, global director of pharma at AirBridgeCargo. “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 cooperation 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.”

ABC started developing its specialist pharma services in 2016 and is currently an active member of industry associations and initiatives such as pharma.aero and Pharma Gateway Amsterdam.