Facility marks fourth 2025 certification as pharma volumes account for 10% of handler's 5m-ton annual throughput amid industry biologics shift
Source: Swissport
Ground handler Swissport has continued to expand its network of certified pharma centres in response to changing market requirements with the addition of Düsseldorf.
The German facility has earned the IATA CEIV Pharma certification, bringing the company’s total number of certified pharma warehouses to 24.
Swissport global cargo chair Dirk Goovaerts said the company had been investing in its pharma facilities in response to a rise in the sensitivity of shipments.
“The primary driver for our cold chain reinforcement is the fundamental shift in pharmaceutical manufacturing toward biologics and temperature-sensitive therapies,” said Goovaerts.
“This evolution requires a specialised handling infrastructure at a global scale. Facilities like Düsseldorf, together with our certified pharma network and digital monitoring systems, enable us to deliver safe, compliant, and reliable logistics at scale to meet growing market demand.”
In 2025, the company also expanded its pharma network with dedicated pharma facilities in Manchester, New York JFK, and Shanghai.
In total, Swissport operates 65 pharma-capable warehouses and 24 warehouses certified for pharmaceutical logistics under industry standards, including the IATA CEIV Pharma, the British Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), and Good Distribution Practice (GDP).
In 2024, Swissport handled 5m tons of freight, with pharmaceutical shipments accounting for around 10% of volumes.
