Air carriers turn to cold chain solutions for pharma sector

IN recent months, Air Canada, American Airlines, British Airways World Cargo, Nippon Cargo Airlines and United Airlines have started offering cold chain solutions to manufacturers and shippers of pharmaceuticals, reports Newark`s Journal of Commerce.
This trend is said to be driven by the cold chain pharmaceutical sector being the fastest-growing market segment of air cargo and the highest margin area, apart from the transport of live animals, according to the report which was cited by Washington-based FiercePharma Marketing.
It noted that Continental Airlines is one of a handful of carriers that has "longstanding drug handing capabilities" and is said to be "watching the influx of competitors." Continental provides the ClimateSecure temperature-controlled service, and is aligned with container manufacturer Envirotainer for passive unit load devices and with CSafe AcuTemp for active unit load devices.
"The compressor-driven AcuTemp RKN container is approved by both the European Aviation Safety Agency and the FAA. It also incorporates the new International Air Transport Association label for time- and temperature-sensitive healthcare products, which is set to become a requirement in July," FiercePharma Marketing added.