The Lufthansa Cargo Pharma Centers in Munich and Chicago, which opened in summer 2020, were recently CEIV Pharma-certified — expanding its certification as an airline to offering a CEIV pharma-certified network of 32 stations worldwide.

In a statement, Lufthansa Cargo said after extensive testing, the CEIV Pharma label of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) also confirms to Lufthansa Cargo in Munich and Chicago the reliable handling and storage of urgent and temperature-sensitive shipments according to the highest international standard.

The cargo carrier noted that this certification is particularly relevant for the transport of highly sensitive COVID-19 vaccines, as these must be transported worldwide and with the utmost reliability.

"The latest CEIV Pharma certification of our centres in Munich and Chicago confirms our high competence in handling pharmaceutical products. With the construction of the two new state-of-the-art centres, we have been able to significantly expand our excellent pharma network," said Thorsten Braun, senior director Industry Development and Product Management at Lufthansa Cargo.

"Particularly in view of the corona pandemic, these are promising investments for the future. We can offer our customers the global transport of sensitive corona vaccines via two additional certified centres. We are pleased about the official confirmation of our offer by the CEIV Pharma label," he added.

Lufthansa Cargo noted that its Pharma Hub Munich is unique at the logistically important hub. The state-of-the-art cold storage facility opened at Munich Airport in August 2020 and is the first cold storage facility there with CEIV Pharma certification.

The facility covers almost 1000 square meters, it offers two different cooling areas (+2 to +8 °C and +15 to +25 °C) as well as a deep-freeze cell.

Both during storage and handling, the temperature of highly sensitive pharmaceutical shipments can be optimally maintained.

Meanwhile, as a central handling point for pharmaceutical products in the U.S., the CEIV Pharma-certified Lufthansa Cargo Pharma Center Chicago opened at O' Hare Airport in June 2020.

It noted that the facility has a deep-freeze cell and two different temperature ranges (+2 to +8 °C and +15 to +25 °C) are spread over approximately 750 square meters here.

The Chicago Pharma Center also offers space for 54 pallets in a unique and temperature-controlled rack storage system, it added.

The Lufthansa Cargo said its Pharma Hub Frankfurt was already expanded in 2018. A large proportion of pharmaceutical transports at Lufthansa Cargo are handled via the hub. With approximately 8,800 square meters, it is one of the world's first refrigeration centres with CEIV Pharma certification.