Swissport Frankfurt recertified by IATA for pharma
11 / 06 / 2024
Swissport's air cargo centre at Frankfurt Airport. Photo: Swissport
Swissport’s air cargo centre at Frankfurt Airport (FRA) has been reawarded with IATA’s CEIV Pharma (Center of Excellence for Independent Validators in Pharmaceutical Logistics) certification.
The certification demonstrates a company’s rigorous adherence to the quality and security standards essential for handling sensitive pharmaceuticals.
“The recertification by IATA highlights our commitment to providing safe, efficient, and reliable pharmaceutical logistics solutions for our global customers,” said Andreas Behnke, head of Swissport Cargo Services for Germany and Austria at Frankfurt Airport.
“Our dedication to Frankfurt Airport translates to advantages for our airline customers, logistics partners, and the airport itself. This reinforces Frankfurt’s position as a crucial hub for reliable temperature-controlled supply chains.”
Swissport opened its 17,000 sq m cargo facility in November 2020 and supported critical pharma logistics throughout the pandemic.
The facility includes the Swissport Pharma Center with a 1,560 sq m dedicated area for temperature-controlled pharmaceutical shipments, of which 1,300 sq m are allocated for products requiring 15°C to 25°C storage and 260 sq m for those needing 2°C to 8°C conditions.
At its Frankfurt facility, Swissport has invested heavily in digitalisation and modern equipment to streamline operations and to increase efficiency across the global logistics chain.
The warehouse located in the CargoCity South area has direct tarmac access and is equipped with advanced handling technology, facilitating seamless air cargo operations. The automated material handling system (MHS) can store and retrieve up to 115 main deck unit load devices (ULDs).
Operations also incorporate an all-electric fleet of ground service vehicles to reduce emissions. Additionally, the facility features the largest photovoltaic system at Frankfurt Airport, generating over 1.5m kWh of sustainable solar energy annually.
In addition to its advanced pharmaceutical handling capabilities, Swissport has recently expanded its services to include freight forwarder handling in Frankfurt.