Lufthansa Cargo expands pharma operations with two new facilities

Lufthansa Cargo has expanded its pharma operations with the opening of a new hub in Munich and another in Chicago.

The new Lufthansa Cargo Pharma Hub Munich at the city’s airport offers space for up to 96 pallets and loose cargo at two different temperature ranges (2°C to 8°C and 15°C to 25°C) and a freezer (down to -18°C) on almost 1,000 sq m and on several levels. The carrier hopes to have the facility IATA CEIV certified in the Autumn, which would represent the first facility at Munich airport to achieve the standard.

Harald Gloy, Lufthansa Cargo board member operations, said: “With the new Pharma-Hub at our hub in Munich, we have created a state-of-the-art infrastructure for temperature-sensitive freight that will guarantee our customers even higher transport quality for their pharma shipments in the future.

“Particularly in the context of the corona pandemic, the relevance of stable supply chains and fast transport of medicines or vaccines has once again been demonstrated.”

Meanwhile, in June Lufthansa Cargo opened a pharma centre at Chicago at O’Hare Airport.

The 750 sq m facility provides space on several levels for up to 54 pallets and 102 cool containers at two different temperature ranges (2°C to 8°C and 15°C to 25°C) and in a freezer (down to -18 °C).

Most of the pharmaceutical shipments carried by Lufthansa Cargo are handled at its Frankfurt pharma hub, which was extended by around two-thirds to 8,000 sq m in 2018.

In the picture from left to right: Johannes Zinkl, Lufthansa Cargo head of hub management Munich, Ola Hansson, Lufthansa hub chief executive Munich, Harald Gloy, Lufthansa Cargo board member operations, Jost Lammers, chairman of Flughafen München