Singapore Airlines Cargo receives CEIV Pharma renewal

Singapore Airlines (SIA) Cargo, the first airline in the Asia Pacific region to be gain CEIV Pharma certification in 2017, has received renewed certification from IATA.

The renewed certification comes after SIA expanded its cool chain corridor with the addition of pharma-handling hubs in Copenhagen, Osaka and Stockholm.

The new cool chain hub destinations are part of SIA’s expanding THRUCOOOL1 pharma corridor, launched in 2018 after initial certification from IATA a year earlier.

Last year, SIA Cargo signed a three-year agreement with SkyCell that enabled it to lease of temperature-controlled containers designed to optimise the conditions for pharmaceutical products to be transported.

Chin Yau Seng, SIA’s senior vice president of cargo, commented: “We are pleased that our IATA CEIV Pharma certification has been renewed after a re-certification audit. It reinforces the importance that we place on quality and reliability in the transportation of key pharmaceutical products.

“We remain committed to rolling out THRUCOOL to more locations with the expansion of our quality corridor network, while also looking for new ways to further enhance the product.”

Conrad Clifford, IATA ‘s regional vice president, Asia Pacific, added: “Cold chain logistics for pharmaceutical products is a growing segment of the air cargo business, with spending expected to grow 5-6% annually.

“Singapore Airlines’ renewal of their CEIV Pharma certification ensures that they continue to be well placed to serve the needs of pharmaceutical companies and transport these time and temperature sensitive products to locations around the world where they are most needed while ensuring the product integrity.”

IATA’s CEIV Pharma certification affirms an airline or businesses’ capability of handling time-sensitive and temperature-controlled cargo with integrity, reliability and efficiency.