For the third time, Air France KLM Martinair Cargo (AFKLMP) has been awarded IATA CEIV Pharma certification for the Air France and KLM airline processes and its Charles de Gaulle and Schiphol hub operations. This assures pharmaceutical companies of reliable transportation of temperature-controlled and time-sensitive products.

The safe transportation of pharmaceuticals – including vaccines – has never been more critical. AFKLMP Cargo is committed to fulfilling the needs of pharma customers by continuing to meet the high standards of IATA’s CEIV Pharma programme.

In 2016, AFKLMP Cargo was the first airline group to be CEIV Pharma certified. Nick Careen, IATA Senior Vice President Operations, Safety and Security said, “The European freight market is one of the largest in the world, accounting for close to a quarter of total global trade. Having Air France KLM Martinair Cargo, one of the region’s largest cargo operators, achieve CEIV Pharma Certification at two of Europe’s largest airports, for the third time, is a testament to the company’s reliable handling of pharma shipments.”

Adriaan den Heijer, executive vice president of Air France KLM Cargo and managing director of Martinair: “The pharmaceutical segment forms a strategic part of our business in which we continuously invest. The IATA CEIV Pharma recertification demonstrates once again that we have the right expertise, processes and facilities in place. We will make additional investments this year in our facilities, (digital) services and people to further strengthen our proposition for our pharmaceutical customers.”

Air France KLM Martinair Cargo has drafted a three-year strategy to achieve growth in the pharmaceutical segment. In addition to strengthening its existing industry-leading digital ecosystem and booking tools, the Group will invest in further expanding its cold-chain capacity and operational quality.

Terrence Sell, Global Healthcare Product Manager Air Logistics at Kuehne+Nagel: “Air France KLM Martinair Cargo continues to be a strategic partner for Kuehne+Nagel, ensuring the safe transport of pharmaceutical and healthcare products to the patient at the end of the supply chain. It’s encouraging to see their plans for continued investment in their quality management systems as well as their network infrastructure.”

Temperature-controlled shipments are a rapidly growing segment in the air cargo market. There are intricate compliance procedures for special products, such as vaccines. Required temperatures must be adhered to and documented throughout the supply chain, which is why the stringent measures Air France KLM Martinair Cargo has in place are critical.

Marcel Kuijn, Global Head of Pharmaceutical Logistics at Air France KLM Martinair Cargo: “I’m very pleased with the fact that both Air France and KLM have been IATA CEIV Pharma certified for the third time. It’s the result of continuous focus and investment to ensure that sensitive pharmaceutical products reach patients safely. I’d like to specifically thank our pharma product specialists who work hard every day, along with everyone else in our organisation involved in the handling of pharmaceutical products, to continuously improve the quality and service we provide to our customers.”