PharmaLife and FreshForward – the dedicated cool chain products of Etihad Cargo – recorded growth of 37 and 10 percent respectively in 2023.
Etihad Cargo’s infrastructure and expertise in handling the most delicate and temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products was showcased as pharmaceutical shipments reached an all-time high, growing a remarkable 37 percent compared to 2022.
Fresh and perishable shipments saw a 10 percent year-on-year growth, making it the third consecutive year of positive performance for both PharmaLife and FreshForward.
Leonard Rodrigues, Acting Managing Director at Etihad Cargo, commented: “Etihad Cargo is fully aligned with Abu Dhabi’s vision of becoming a global logistics, pharmaceuticals and perishables hub. The carrier’s commitment to quality, combined with continuous product and infrastructure enhancements, has enabled it to achieve significant growth and contribute to creating a more resilient and robust global cool chain.”
The cargo arm of Etihad Airways has continuously invested in and added features to its cool chain product range. It holds IATA’s Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) certification in pharmaceutical and fresh logistics. It has achieved a 99.1 percent compliance rate for pharmaceutical shipments in addition to growing cool chain volumes for the last three years.
Two factors that contributed to the rise of the volumes for Etihad Cargo were the opening of a dedicated pharma hub, which has doubled its cool chain storage and handling capacity, and the launch of Pharma Corridor 2.0 between Abu Dhabi and Brussels.
The pharma hub is a 3,300 square-metre facility with the latest technology and features, including RFS loading docks with levellers, insulation and floor work for faster and more efficient loading with stricter temperature controls. It has increased storage space, additional build-up and breakdown zones for improved production workflows and upgraded cool chain facilities.
Since launching the new hub in July 2023, Etihad Cargo immediately achieved an increase in pharmaceutical volumes – a 39 percent increase in July, a 40 percent increase in August and a 41 percent increase in September.
The Pharma Corridor 2.0 has provided the highest levels of assurance in the quality of handling to pharmaceutical shippers and forwarders through the establishment of dedicated pharma corridors between airports with cargo handling communities certified under the IATA CEIV Pharma programme.
In 2023, the carrier recorded a 10.3 percent increase in volumes transported via the first-of-its-kind corridor and has shipped over 70 percent more pharmaceutical and life sciences cargo volumes since its creation.
Rodrigues added: “The establishment of Pharma Corridor 2.0 and an expansive global PharmaLife network has enabled Etihad Cargo to bring much-needed transparency, traceability and trackability to the sector, benefiting not only customers but also the global pharma supply chain.
“Etihad Cargo is now actively exploring further opportunities to create additional corridors between Abu Dhabi and other key markets to bring these benefits to more regions critical to the manufacture and supply of pharmaceuticals.”
Etihad Cargo has also refurbished its perishables handling and storage facility. It operates a 3,000-square-metre dedicated perishables temperature-controlled warehouse, providing smoother transfers to its FreshForward truck fleet, making the end-to-end journey of perishables easier and safer.
Etihad Cargo has also provided additional cool chain capacity to its partners and customers with the addition of new stations and increased frequencies to its global network, which has grown to serve over 70 destinations.
In Asia, it added a fourth gateway destination in China – Ezhou – in 2023 and offers more belly hold cargo capacity across new passenger routes to Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram, operating seven flights per week to each destination. Seven new passenger flights to Chennai bring the total number of weekly flights to 21, supported by a twice-weekly freighter service.
The case of India
Rodrigues gave the example of India and its burgeoning pharma industry on how Etihad Cargo is helping businesses.
“Etihad Cargo’s partners have benefited from the carrier’s expanded operations in key regions and increased frequencies across critical trade routes,” he explained.
“For example, India represents 30-40 percent of the global production of generic medications and supplies medicines to over 200 countries. The country is establishing itself as a healthcare hub, which is driving demand for PharmaLife, and Etihad Cargo is committed to supporting emerging and growing markets through new product features, technology and dedicated expertise.
“In 2023, Etihad Cargo started new pharma roadshows and naturally focused on India. The carrier’s Pharma Champions programme is providing local expertise for its Indian customers as well as enhancing its connectivity to India’s key markets, including North America and Europe. In less than one year, Etihad Cargo has doubled its PharmaLife volumes from India.”
Etihad Cargo recently announced it will be implementing enhanced cargo screening requirements for US-bound shipments from selected stations, including Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi and Hyderabad, and Bangkok, Jakarta, Hanoi, Kuala Lumpur, Manila and Singapore. This will benefit customers through shorter transit times in Abu Dhabi.
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