Singapore Airlines (SIA) Cargo has received renewed CEIV Pharma certification from IATA, after being the first airline in the Asia Pacific region to be granted the said certification in 2017.

SIA Cargo said it received the re-certification last January 2020, reaffirming its ability to handle high value, time-sensitive and temperature-controlled pharmaceutical cargo with speed, reliability and efficiency.

The renewed certification comes as SIA Cargo announced it is expanding its cool chain corridor with the addition of pharma-handling hubs in Copenhagen, Osaka and Stockholm.

The new cool chain hub destinations are part of SIA Cargo’s THRUCOOOL1 pharma corridor, launched in September 2018.

SIA Cargo said this offers customers the option of using the airline’s THRUCOOL1 network to transport pharmaceutical products to and from these cities via Singapore, with the assurance of maximum attention to product integrity at each step of the journey.

Last year, SIA Cargo inked a three-year agreement with SkyCell, enabling it to lease temperature-controlled containers designed to optimise the conditions for pharmaceutical products to be transported.

“We are pleased that our IATA CEIV Pharma certification has been renewed after a re-certification audit. It reinforces the importance that we place on quality and reliability in the transportation of key pharmaceutical products. We remain committed to rolling out THRUCOOL to more locations with the expansion of our quality corridor network, while also looking for new ways to further enhance the product,” said Chin Yau Seng, SIA’s senior vice president cargo.

Conrad Clifford, IATA regional vice president, Asia-Pacific, said cold chain logistics for pharmaceutical products is a growing segment of the air cargo business.

Spending for this segment, he added, is expected to grow 5-6% annually.

“Singapore Airlines’ renewal of their CEIV Pharma certification ensures that they continue to be well placed to serve the needs of pharmaceutical companies and transport these time and temperature-sensitive products to locations around the world where they are most needed while ensuring the product integrity,” he said.