Etihad Cargo has launched Pharma Champions, a development programme to enhance pharmaceutical transportation expertise and customer service. Pharma Champions is aligned with Etihad Cargo's long-term plans and the implementation of the carrier's cool chain masterplan, which was launched in 2020 to form the foundation of Etihad Cargo's shared vision with Abu Dhabi to further establish the emirate as a global pharmaceutical and life sciences hub.
PharmaLife, Etihad Cargo's award-winning pharmaceutical shipment solution, has achieved significant year-on-year growth. In the last 12 months, Etihad Cargo has recorded a 49 per cent increase in pharmaceutical and life sciences products tonnage compared to the previous year. To meet the increasing demand for both +15 to +25°C Controlled Room Temperature (CRT) and +2 to +8°C Cool Storage (COL) segments, Etihad Cargo has focused on continuous improvement, product enhancements and expanding the carrier's network, which now serves over 62 destinations worldwide. To strengthen connections between Abu Dhabi and the rest of the world, Etihad Cargo has developed over 1,330 IATA CEIV Pharma and GDP-certified trade lanes, ensuring product integrity during transportation.
Pharma Champions was developed proactively by Etihad Cargo's business development, learning and development, and operations support teams to enhance local expertise, benefiting the carrier's customers and partners with improved service levels. The programme comprises online and onsite training, a visit to Etihad Cargo's dedicated pharmaceutical hub and the development of a dedicated PharmaLife action plan, giving participants the tools to add additional value to current partnerships, more effectively identify new business opportunities and ensure Etihad Cargo's PharmaLife product is delivered in full compliance with rigorous international standards.
"Etihad Cargo has developed and launched Pharma Champions to enhance the carrier's capabilities in transporting high-value, temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals across its global network," said Tim Isik, Vice President Commercial at Etihad Cargo.
"In addition to giving participants — Etihad Cargo's Pharma Champions — a more in-depth understanding of PharmaLife's key features, the programme facilitates the development of a tailored PharmaLife action plan that will enable the champions to provide customer service excellence, enhanced customer response times and expertise within their regions. These Pharma Champions are an integral part of Etihad Cargo's cool chain strategy and operations for the coming years and will act as focal contact points in the carrier's key PharmaLife markets. This will enable Etihad Cargo to enhance regional knowledge hubs, mitigating the challenges of operating across multiple time zones and ensuring the carrier can respond to customer enquiries more quickly and efficiently."
