In 2019, Emirates Skycargo unveiled a new handling facility dedicated for pharmaceutical cargo at Chicago airport, one of the most important pharma stations for the carrier across the world. The facility features temperature controlled zones for acceptance and delivery, pharma cargo build up and break down, storage and direct ramp access and is also certified under EU GDP guidelines.

Additional in November 2019, Emirates Skycargo moved its pharma handling operations at Copenhagen airport to a dedicated GDP certified facility.

Both initiatives are part of the carrier’s objective to offer enhanced protection for pharmaceutical cargo, not just at the Dubai hub, but from origin to destination under the pharma corridors program. During 2019, the carrier worked with ground handlers at key pharma origin and destination cities across the world to expand the number of pharma stations from 12 to 25.

With its focus on improved capabilities and process benchmarks through collaboration, the implementation of Emirates Skycargo’s pharma corridors program has resulted in an increase in the volume of pharma cargo handled across the carrier’s pharma stations. For example, since the launch of the new facility, Chicago has seen a double digit growth in the volume of pharma cargo transported.