Sixty companies are working together as part of Vaccines Gateway Netherlands (VGN) at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to ensure the safe, secure, and swift transportation of the COVID-19 vaccines from manufacturer to end-user after the vaccines were approved by the European Medicine Agency, situated in Amsterdam.  

Aside from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, the group also includes Air France KLM Martinair Cargo and Air Cargo Netherlands members including manufacturers, Dutch airports, airlines, freight forwarders, ground handlers, trucking companies, among others.

Safe, secure and swift vaccine transport

“VGN is fully committed and feels responsible to fulfil this vital task and deliver high-end quality throughout the whole airfreight supply chain,” said Ferry van der Ent, director of Business Development, Schiphol Cargo. 

van der Ent noted that the taskforce strives to be the European Gateway for the transportation of COVID-19 vaccines.

“The Corona pandemic has had a tremendous effect on all of us worldwide and this will remain the case until the virus has been eradicated, which most effectively will be achieved by a successful vaccine,” he said, noting that vaccines will be produced at a set of specific sites around the globe and it will require a large distribution network and collaboration between stakeholders in the logistics supply chain to deliver and handle as quickly as possible.  

“Not only is the large number of shipments expected for the COVID-19 vaccines a task, but we also expect to have to step up to maintain the vaccines in a good condition as required," van der Ent said. 

“Some need to be transported at -80, others up to eight degrees Celsius. We are experienced with temperature sensitive goods and are aware of the harmful impact when exposed to temperature deviations,” he added, noting that the firm have successfully run through different scenarios and have created guidelines based on these in order to make sure we are prepared for every eventuality.

Since launching in September, VGN said it has begun creating ‘fast lanes’ at Schiphol airport to ensure “immediate in/immediate out” handling for the vaccines and ensuring very little storage time is required at the airport. 

“VGN members are greatly experienced in handling temperature-controlled shipments and we will be sharing knowledge and data to make sure the vaccines safely reach their destination at the right time,” said Maarten van As, Managing Director, Air Cargo Netherlands. 

CEIV certification across the board

The VGN has also ensured that all hauliers, forwarders, airlines, and handler members are GDP compliant and, in most cases, have additional CEIV certification.

“The VGN supports a great deal of knowledge sharing amongst members and brings together both local and International communities to ensure we are ready to receive, process and fly the vaccines,” said Marcel Kuijn, director Pricing, Capacity and Contracting, Air France KLM Martinair Cargo.

In 2019, AMS had 108 airlines serving 332 destinations in 95 different countries, with 28 cargo-only services.  

Seven ground handlers are active at Schiphol providing services for over 600 full freighter aircraft per month, it added.