Swissport gains IATA pharma standard in Liege and Toronto
01 / 09 / 2023
Photo: Swissport
Swissport’s cargo facilities at Liège Airport in Belgium and Toronto Pearson International Airport in Canada have obtained IATA’s CEIV Pharma certification
This marks the company’s 16th and 17th certifications for pharma warehousing. Liège is Swissport’s second CEIV Pharma-certified facility in Belgium after Brussels.
Toronto is also the second certified cargo location for the company in Canada: In 2018, Swissport was recognized as the first CEIV Pharma-certified air cargo handler in Canada with its operations at Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL).
The new Swissport Pharma Center in Liège is part of a larger air cargo facility totalling some 6,000 sq m. It comprises two temperature-controlled storage units which operate at temperature ranges of 02-08° C and 15-25° C. Each cool room has an area of 180 sq m and can hold up to 15 unit load devices.
In Toronto, the Swissport Pharma Center is part of a 4,825 sq m cargo facility. It also comprises two cool rooms operating at ranges of 02-08°C and 15-25°C. Each cool room can hold up to 40 skids or three PMC pallets.
“We are thrilled to see Liège join Swissport’s growing network of Pharma Centers,” says Dirk Goovaerts, chief executive of Continental Europe, Middle East and Africa, and global cargo chair at Swissport.
“This latest CEIV certification in Liege, where Swissport operates a state-of-the-art pharma center with end-to-end refrigeration solutions, is testament to our infrastructure investment and the operational expertise of our team.
“Our capabilities in Liège – one of the leading hubs for pharmaceutical shipments in Europe – perfectly complement our established offering in Brussels, Belgium, and other European pharma centers such as Frankfurt, Germany, and Basel, Switzerland.”
“The CEIV Pharma certification of our cargo operation at Toronto Airport is a recognition of the efforts and investments that went towards upgrading our infrastructure, refining our process and upskilling our teams,” said Charles Roberge, chief executive of Swissport Canada. “It solidifies Swissport’s leader role in pharma handling in Canada.”
Around the world, Swissport is expanding its presence in pharmaceuticals handling. June marked the opening of a new 400 sq m facility for temperature-controlled cargo at Dublin Airport in Ireland.
And in May, the Swissport air cargo center at Barcelona-El Prat Airport renewed its CEIV Pharma certification. In addition, the Swissport cargo center at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya, was also expanded to include a new 750 sq m cold storeroom.
The company now operates 21 Swissport Pharma Centers, complemented by 74 pharma-capable air cargo warehouses and plans to bring additional facilities under its Pharma Center brand.
Swissport upgrades perishable and pharma facilities in Kenya
