IAG Cargo opens constant climate centre in Madrid

IAG Cargo has opened a pharmaceutical centre in Madrid airport, dedicated to its Constant Climate product for time and temperature-sensitive life sciences products.

Work on the new Spanish facility began in June 2018 and is the latest addition to IAG Cargo’s Madrid hub, which handles over 250,000 tonnes of cargo per year.

The new centre will allow IAG Cargo to increase the volumes of pharma products passing through its Madrid hub, primarily serving the growing Latin American pharma market which is projected to increase by 9% per year until 2028.

The Good Distribution Practice (GDP) certified centre boasts two dedicated temperature-controlled chambers, totalling over 900 sq m.

Shipments are loaded onto dedicated airside docks and served by a specialist fleet of refrigerated trucks for transport from the cargo terminal for loading onto aircraft.

Camilo Garcia, director of sales, marketing and products at IAG Cargo, said: “The opening of this new Constant Climate centre reflects our continued investment in our infrastructure and operations. Constant Climate was the first pharma-only product to the market and last year we shipped over 25,000 tonnes of life-saving medicines and vaccines.

“GDP is a critical focus for our Constant Climate product as it ensures delivery of medicine to the end-patient in a pure, potent and stable condition.

“All of our staff involved in the handling of Constant Climate shipments are GDP trained and the certification of the Madrid facility means that all three of our Constant Climate hubs – London, Dublin and Madrid – are GDP certified, driving quality across our network.”