DHL Group has expanded its airfreight cold chain network as part of a broader push to strengthen its global health‑care logistics capabilities, adding new temperature‑controlled capacity to support rising demand for pharmaceutical and medical shipments.
The global network, part of DHL's €2 billion investment in its health‑care logistics business, provides end‑to‑end visibility for temperature‑sensitive medical shipments and supports the growing logistics needs of major pharmaceutical and health‑care companies.
"Life sciences and healthcare companies expect cold chain solutions that are reliable, compliant, and transparent from end to end - and those expectations are rising fast," said Oscar de Bok, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding, Freight.
"At the same time, they're looking for ways to simplify supply chains and reduce costs. Our expanded network brings together DHL Aviation's global air connectivity, our GDP-compliant station network, and our major investments in modern, temperature-controlled facilities. The result is a more resilient, more efficient logistics backbone for customers who depend on flawless quality to deliver critical therapies to patients."
DHL noted that by reducing reliance on third-party carriers and commercial airlines, DHL improves product integrity and temperature control throughout the journey while increasing supply chain resilience amid geopolitical tensions, capacity shortages, and growing regulatory complexity.
The expansion adds capacity for temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical and medical shipments and connects key markets through more than 30 GDP-compliant aviation hubs and gateways.
The network will first connect major DHL hubs, including Brussels (BRU) - Cincinnati (CVG), with additional routes in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America to follow.
The BRU-CVG corridor connects the U.S. Midwest, home to leading pharma companies, directly to one of Europe's most advanced life sciences ecosystems.
DHL said the routing helps shippers bypass coastal bottlenecks and maintain temperature control for high‑value biologics and time‑critical cell and gene therapies. On the Brussels end, the lane connects into 45,000 square meters of pharma‑dedicated facilities at BRUcargo, which are equipped to handle clinical‑grade products.
Together, the setup creates a more stable link between two major health‑care markets.
"The expanded network supports DHL's mission to strengthen global health logistics and meet rising demand for fast, reliable, temperature-controlled transport of pharmaceutical products and medical supplies," DHL said, noting that patient safety remains central to the service — and combined with significant investments in temperature-controlled infrastructure, the network reduces reliance on heavy, costly packaging and refrigerated air freight containers, offering an economical service focused on quality and minimizing temperature excursions.
Dedicated freighter launched
To support the expanded network, DHL said it has introduced a dedicated Boeing 777 freighter operating between Brussels and Cincinnati. The aircraft, which features the new "DHL Health Logistics" livery, serves as a visible marker of the company's strategic focus on healthcare logistics.
More importantly, the dedicated routing gives shippers steadier, controllable capacity on a key pharmaceutical lane, supporting the temperature‑management standards required for sensitive products. While the branding signals the sector focus, the aircraft's actual contribution is the added lift and consistency it brings to DHL's health‑care logistics network.
