American Airlines Cargo Continues Enhancing Cold-Chain Program

American Airlines Cargo has signed with The International Air Transportation Association (IATA) to obtain certification for the handling of pharmaceuticals and healthcare products targeted at supply chain participants. American obtains this certification in an effort to promote the hard work and investments made over the last few years to enhance and evolve its cold-chain program.

Initial stations will include American's home base and key hub Dallas-Fort Worth International (DFW), and Miami International (MIA). As the largest airline at MIA, American's certification will back the MIA Airport Pharma Hub initiative. American will also certify Philadelphia International (PHL) in support of its dedicated, 25,000 square-foot pharmaceutical and healthcare handling facility that opened in 2015.

The IATA certification, known as the Center for Excellence and Independent Validators (CEIV), impartially validates the capabilities associated with the proper transportation of delicate, temperature-controlled pharmaceutical shipments. In addition to the facilitation of critical training for warehouse handling staff on regulations and best practices, the certification includes the assessment and verification of properly-equipped facilities, processes and operational effectiveness for the correct handling of these sensitive products—all efforts American has focused heavily on over the recent years.

“Our focus is on moving pharmaceuticals safely and efficiently across the globe, and being the first U.S. carrier to promote this certification will help show our partners and customers how confident we are in our abilities to offer the best cold-chain service possible,” says Tom Grubb, American's manager of cold chain strategy for its cargo division.

ExpediteTC°, American's premium temperature-control program, was developed for the best-in-class handling and shipping of pharmaceutical and healthcare commodities—such as vaccines, gene therapies and blood products—throughout the supply chain. Given the delicate nature of these products and the need to ensure the safe and effective transport for the end patient, American will invest in CEIV across its global network, starting with key hubs, to validate its high-end, cold-chain offering.

The certification will help promote the investments American has made toward facility, technology and process enhancements, ensuring the highest quality compliance, training and handling possible across its global cold-chain network, which reaches 157 cities in 45 countries around the globe…including Cuba.

“Cuba has a thriving medical community with its trained doctors frequently traveling to other countries in need of their knowledge and expertise,” says The Executive Director of the Airforwarders Association, Brandon Fried. “As commerce begins to increase between the U.S. And Cuba, we can probably look forward to a thriving pharmaceutical community to flourish and the need to transport such products between our two countries. American’s attainment of this certification will not only compliment its new Cuban air service but other destinations served in throughout the Caribbean, Latin America & South America.”

The demand for temperature management services continues to grow at a rapid pace due to market growth, necessary product requirements and stringent global regulations. With the increase in regulatory oversight of pharmaceutical logistics comes the industrywide need to ensure quality handing from all stakeholders, says American Airlines spokesmen.

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