Lufthansa Cargo has expanded its pharma operations with the opening of hubs in Munich and Chicago as part of its efforts to massively grow its worldwide storage capacity for temperature-sensitive freight. 

The new "Lufthansa Cargo Pharma Hub Munich" has opened at Munich Airport offering space for up to 96 pallets and loose cargo in two different temperature ranges (2°C to 8°C and 15°C  to 25°C) and a freezer (down to -18 °C) on almost 1000 square metres and on several levels.

Lufthansa said it hopes to secure the IATA CEIV certification for the facility in the Autumn, which would also make it the first facility at Munich airport to achieve the standard.

“With the new Pharma-Hub at our hub in Munich, we have created a state-of-the-art infrastructure for temperature-sensitive freight that will guarantee our customers even higher transport quality for their pharma shipments in the future,” said Harald Gloy, Lufthansa Cargo board member operations.

Pharma facility expansion in the US

“Particularly in the context of the corona pandemic, the relevance of stable supply chains and fast transport of medicines or vaccines has once again been demonstrated.”

Meanwhile, in June Lufthansa Cargo also opened a pharma centre at Chicago at O’Hare Airport.

The 750 square metre facility has been providing space on several levels for up to 54 pallets and 102 cool containers in two different temperature ranges (2°C to 8 °C and 15°C to 25 °C) and in a freezer (down to -18 °C).

Lufthansa said, however, that most of the pharmaceutical shipments carried by Lufthansa Cargo are handled at its Frankfurt pharma hub, which was extended by around two-thirds to 8,000 sq m in 2018.

By the end of 2020, Lufthansa Cargo's worldwide network is expected to comprise 31 CEIV Pharma-certified pharma stations. In addition, this CEIV network is being continuously expanded.