The pharmaceutical sector is rapidly emerging as one of the most resilient and high-value growth engines for the global air cargo industry in 2026. As the logistics landscape shifts from volume-driven to value-driven cargo, pharma shipments—particularly temperature-sensitive and time-critical products—are redefining priorities for airlines, airports, and logistics providers.
Driven by the rise of biologics, vaccines, and advanced therapies such as cell and gene treatments, demand for specialized air cargo solutions is accelerating. These products require strict temperature control, real-time monitoring, and compliance with Good Distribution Practice (GDP) standards, making air freight the preferred mode of transport. As a result, the pharma air freight segment is projected to grow at over 6% annually, outpacing broader cargo market expansion.
In parallel, the global air freight market is forecast to grow steadily, reaching over $225 billion by 2031, with pharmaceutical cold-chain logistics identified as a key driver. Increasing investments in cold-chain infrastructure, digital tracking technologies, and certified pharma corridors are further strengthening this segment’s reliability and scalability.
However, 2026 also presents structural challenges. Capacity constraints, geopolitical disruptions, and rising costs are testing supply chain resilience. Recent global events have highlighted the vulnerability of pharma logistics to airspace disruptions and route volatility, reinforcing the critical role of air cargo in ensuring continuity of essential medicines.
Despite these headwinds, pharma remains a premium, non-discretionary cargo segment. Its reliance on speed, precision, and compliance positions it at the forefront of air cargo’s transformation—shifting the industry toward specialized, high-yield logistics. As global healthcare demand expands, “pharma at altitude” is set to remain a cornerstone of sustainable air cargo growth in 2026 and beyond.
Julian Sutch, Head of Cool Chain Products, Emirates SkyCargo
How does the pharma segment fit into Emirates SkyCargo’s overall strategy and growth plans for 2026 and beyond?
Our pharmaceutical business is arguably one of the most important segments for us—by volume, by yield, and in terms of our broader strategic objectives. At the heart of our efforts is a clear goal: to ensure that vital medicines reach patients, no matter the complexity of the journey. That purpose drives everything we do.
We first launched our dedicated pharma product in 2016, and since then, we have evolved it into five distinct sub-segments. This development has been guided by close collaboration with our customers, a deep understanding of market dynamics, and careful analysis of the types of products being transported.
Today, we are witnessing a new wave of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the area of personalized or individual patient treatments. These therapies are uniquely designed for a specific patient and are not mass-produced or available off the shelf at pharmacies. They are tailored to the individual, making them extremely valuable—indeed, often priceless.
Many of these treatments are biologics, involving living cells or organisms. As such, they require strict temperature control and extremely fast transit times. In response, we are continuously designing and refining specialized solutions to ensure these highly sensitive and time-critical shipments are handled with the utmost precision and care.
How is Emirates SkyCargo enhancing its cold chain infrastructure for temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals?
There are three key aspects to our pharma cold chain strategy. First, and most importantly, is our infrastructure in Dubai. Operating in a region with consistently high temperatures has allowed us to build robust, year-round temperature-controlled facilities that operate 24/7, 365 days a year. This ensures that shipments remain within the required temperature range at all times, a capability that is often lacking in other parts of the world.
Equally critical is our collaboration with global partners. While our Dubai hub runs seamlessly, we depend on carefully selected handling partners worldwide. In markets where pharmaceuticals are a significant commodity, we prioritize partners with the right infrastructure, trained personnel, and compliant processes to meet GDP standards, ensuring sensitive shipments are managed reliably.
Finally, in certain markets, we form strategic partnerships to develop new capabilities. For instance, our Chicago facility, opened in 2019, was a collaborative effort where we provided expertise in design and implementation, while our partner invested in the infrastructure. Today, Chicago is a leading destination for pharmaceuticals, particularly shipments originating from India, demonstrating the success of this approach.
How do digital tracking, real-time monitoring, and data transparency build trust with pharma shippers, and are there new tech solutions?
Digital tracking and real-time temperature monitoring are vital for building trust with pharmaceutical shippers. Most shipments now include temperature loggers from manufacturers—one inside to monitor the product and another outside for ambient conditions—often supplemented by forwarders’ own devices. Traditionally, data from these loggers was only reviewed after arrival, limiting the ability to act during transit. Today, advancements allow live, real-time monitoring, greatly improving transparency and enabling proactive intervention.
At Emirates SkyCargo, our control center in Dubai monitors shipments carefully not only in Dubai but also outstations, working closely with our handling and forwarding partners. If a shipment’s temperature begins to deviate, the control center communicates immediately to locate the shipment and determine whether corrective action is possible. For cargo still on the ground, we can coordinate with handling partners to address issues quickly.
While operational constraints may limit intervention at times, real-time data significantly enhances responsiveness. With hundreds of approved loggers in use globally, we focus on leveraging this technology to maintain shipment integrity and provide reliable, high-quality service for our pharmaceutical customers.
How is Emirates SkyCargo supporting pharma exports from India and emerging markets, and are there dedicated trade lanes or partnerships
India is by far our most important origin market for pharmaceuticals, accounting for approximately 30 to 35% of our weekly pharma uplift. As the largest single-country source of our global pharma shipments, it remains a key focus. With significant freighter capacity from cities like Ahmedabad and Mumbai—and additional freighters coming online as well as capacity offered on our passenger flights from other pharma hubs such as Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Chennai—we are well placed to support pharma exports from India.
However, outbound capacity from India is only part of the solution; onward connectivity from Dubai to global markets is equally critical. We are able to offer this through our global network from Dubai covering more than 150 destinations.
Consistency at transshipment points is vital. By deploying the same trained handling partners at key hubs, we minimize risk and ensure shipment integrity. We have proven that collaboration with partners who follow rigorous product- and process-driven standards is highly reliable. This strategy maximizes our network capacity while leveraging partner networks, supporting pharma growth from India and other emerging markets.
How is Emirates SkyCargo preparing to handle next-generation therapies requiring precise temperature control, faster transit, and efficient last-mile delivery?
We have already addressed this challenge with one of the fastest-growing segments of our business by developing a dedicated product called Emirates Vital. This solution is specifically designed for highly specialized shipments such as cell and gene therapies, clinical trials, bio-samples, and individual patient treatments, where speed and precise temperature control are critical.
Traditional handling—offloading a pallet, moving it into a warehouse, breaking it down, and reloading—can take six to eight hours, which is far too slow for these sensitive products. To overcome this, Vital shipments, which are usually around 25 kilograms, are hand-carried and loaded directly into the aircraft’s bulk hold, which is temperature-controlled.
Upon arrival in Dubai, a fleet of dedicated vans transports each shipment directly from one aircraft to the next without delay. This ensures minimal handling time and maximizes speed, taking full advantage of Dubai’s high frequency of flights. At the origin airport, shipments often come directly from labs, and our frequent flight schedules allow them to be dispatched quickly—even if a flight has just departed, another is usually available within an hour or so.
Because these shipments are small, they are not constrained by capacity limitations, allowing us to reliably move them faster than many direct carriers. This system—combined with multiple daily frequencies through Dubai and onward connections—ensures that next-generation therapies reach their destinations faster, more reliably, and under strict temperature control. Speed and reliability are the key advantages we offer for these highly sensitive pharmaceutical products.
How frequently are ground staff re-certified in pharma handling, and how is real-world compliance ensured?
We take extensive measures to ensure all staff handling pharmaceutical shipments are fully trained. Anyone who books, handles, hand-carries, or operates equipment with pharma cargo must complete our comprehensive GDP training program at our Dubai academy and undergo periodic re-certification. For outstation teams, we provide an online platform to stay updated on products, systems, processes, and operational procedures. Beyond training, we monitor real-world compliance across our global network. Among our 45 key pharma destinations, ground teams are fully certified under GDP or CEIV standards, with the necessary infrastructure and expertise to handle pharmaceuticals safely and efficiently. Rigorous training and certification are vital to ensuring compliance and maintaining customer trust.
What tangible innovations will shape Emirates SkyCargo’s pharmaceutical offerings over the next 3-5 years, and what are your plans to further enhance them?
From a technological perspective, everything begins with the booking process. If a shipment is booked incorrectly, it can fail, no matter how efficient the logistics. Over the past few years, we have made significant progress—today, around 80% of our shipments are booked online, either through our platform, third-party platforms, or via direct links with key customers. We actively educate our customers to ensure that shipments are booked correctly, which allows them to move seamlessly throughout our network.
Another major innovation is our control center in Dubai, which allows us to track and trace shipments in real time. We work closely with forwarding partners who use trackers and temperature loggers, enabling them to alert us immediately if a shipment shows signs of deviation. Our teams can then locate the shipment and intervene if necessary, enhancing reliability and safety.
Looking ahead, we are focused on addressing the biggest risks at origin and destination airports—particularly the ramp, where temperature-sensitive shipments are most vulnerable. For example, in India, high heat and humidity during summer pose significant challenges. While innovations like Cool Dollies have been helpful, their availability is still limited. We are now developing next-generation solutions to better control the origin-to-destination segment, providing a fully integrated airport-to-airport solution.
These advancements will offer multiple benefits, including improved sustainability, reduced packaging and thermal material usage, and enhanced efficiency. Combined, these innovations will make our pharma cargo offerings faster, safer, and more reliable, while setting new benchmarks for the industry.
Challenge Group
How do you ensure temperature integrity across the entire journey—including first mile, airport handling, flight delays, and last mile—without relying solely on passive packaging?
Pharmaceutical logistics has become one of the fastest growing and most demanding segments of the air cargo industry. It requires a fundamentally different operational mindset compared to standard freight. The biggest challenge is not transport itself but maintaining uninterrupted temperature integrity across the entire logistics chain.
Speaking of temperature control, it is managed across the entire chain, not by packaging. It starts with route risk assessment, followed by controlled loading at origin, storage in temperature-controlled warehouses, minimizing tarmac exposure, pre-cooling the aircraft, and reversing the process for the last mile. We also continuously monitor flight schedules to adjust operations if delays or changes occur.
Under what shipment profiles do you mandate active containers, and how do you validate their performance across long-haul routes?
Active containers are typically used for high-risk, high-value, or temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical shipments. The final decision to use them is made by the pharmaceutical company based on product stability data, risk assessment, and internal quality requirements. Container performance and internal temperature are continuously monitored throughout the transport both in warehouses and during transit—to ensure the required temperature is maintained during flights and truck transport.
How do you handle pharma shipments through non-CEIV or limited cold-chain stations, while ensuring CEIV Pharma standards are maintained across all locations?
Before approving pharmaceutical handling at any station, we conduct an audit and risk assessment covering infrastructure, storage conditions (including mapping and calibration), handling processes, and emergency preparedness. For shipments that pass through non-CEIV stations or locations with limited cold chain infrastructure, we mitigate risks through detailed risk assessments, pre-approved routings, strict transfer time limits, defined escalation procedures, and backup options such as alternative cold storage or rapid transfer solutions. To ensure CEIV Pharma standards are applied consistently across all stations—not only certified hubs—we rely on standardized SOPs, mandatory pharma handling training, regular internal audits, KPI monitoring (such as deviations and dwell times), and centralized quality oversight with CAPA management.
How often are ground staff re-certified in pharma handling, and how do you measure real-world compliance vs classroom training?
CEIV/GDP Pharma certification is renewed every three years, while sales, logistic and W/H employees receive handling training annually or biennially depending on regulatory requirements, with additional refreshers when processes change. Real-world compliance is measured through internal and external audits, ramp and warehouse observations, temperature-excursion monitoring, and KPI tracking. Any deviations trigger corrective and preventive actions (CAPA), ensuring operational practice aligns with classroom training.
Who owns shipment data, how can pharma customers access raw temperature and handling data for audits, and what real-time visibility is provided during transit?
Ownership of shipment data depends on the source: the airline controls flight and ground handling data, while pharmaceutical companies often install own data loggers to monitor the shipment independently. Customers can receive operational temperature and handling data for road transport, air transport, and warehouse handling. Detailed reports are available on request too. Some customer loggers provide real-time temperature and location visibility during ground handling and record during the flight.
During peak seasons or global health emergencies, how do you prioritize pharma shipments against higher-yield cargo?
During peak seasons or global health emergencies, we give pharmaceutical and vaccine shipments Priority or “must-load” status, ensuring they are handled before higher throughput cargo. This prioritization reflects their sensitivity, temperature requirements, and critical importance to public health.
How do you design pharma corridors for high-volume markets like India, what sets them apart, and how do you balance hub-and-spoke efficiency with fewer handoffs?
Pharma corridors for high volume origin markets like India are planned based on market demand, shipment volumes, and regulatory requirements. Routes are differentiated by capacity, transit time, and connectivity to major distribution hubs. At the same time, hub and spoke efficiency is balanced with the pharmaceutical industry’s preference for fewer touchpoints, ensuring faster, reliable, and compliant deliveries.
How do you audit and control pharma handling standards among your appointed GSAs and freight forwarders?
As an airline, we ensure compliance with pharma handling standards through regular audits in line with IATA CTR (Center of Excellence for Independent Validators in ~Pharmaceutical Logistics/ Cool Chain Regulation). We have established SLAs (Service Level Agreements) and SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) with our GSAs and freight forwarders to ensure consistent practices.
- GSA (Ground Handling Agent): We ensure that all GSA personnel handling pharma shipments are trained in pharmaceutical handling and GDP (Good Distribution Practice) standards.
- RFS (Freight Forwarders): Audits are conducted according to IATA regulations, and we ensure that all forwarders follow our SLAs and SOPs for pharma shipment handling.
This approach allows us to maintain high standards, monitor compliance, and ensure the integrity of pharmaceutical shipments throughout the supply chain.
How do you balance sustainability with the energy demands of temperature-controlled pharma transport, and prepare for stricter regulations on biologics and ultra-low-temperature cargo?
As an airline, we work closely with our pharmaceutical customers to meet both sustainability and temperature-control requirements. We optimize transport through efficient routing, modern temperature-controlled equipment, and appropriate packaging solutions that maintain required conditions while reducing energy consumption and environmental impact.
Pharmaceutical companies define the transport conditions, but as an airline we prepare by working closely with them to meet evolving regulatory requirements. This includes risk assessment, staff training, certified handling processes, and the use of validated packaging and temperature-controlled solutions suitable for biologics, cell and gene therapies, and ultra-low temperature shipments.
What tangible innovations will define your pharma cargo offering over the next five years?
Over the next five years, our pharma cargo offering will focus on next-generation active and passive temperature-controlled containers and advanced packaging, real-time shipment visibility through sensors, AI-driven risk management during air transport. We will also expand certified pharma solutions and invest in more cold-chain solutions. These innovations will strengthen reliability, compliance, and end-to-end integrity for time- and temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical shipments.
Royal Air Maroc Cargo Scales Up Cold Chain to Power Pharma Expansion
As global demand for temperature-sensitive healthcare logistics accelerates, Royal Air Maroc Cargo is making a decisive move to position itself as a key player in pharmaceutical airfreight across Africa and beyond. The carrier’s ongoing expansion and modernization of its cold chain infrastructure at Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport marks a strategic investment aimed squarely at meeting the stringent requirements of the pharmaceutical sector.
At the heart of the upgrade is a redesigned temperature-controlled facility featuring five specialized cold chambers, covering a total area of 590 m². The new layout has been carefully configured to accommodate a wide spectrum of pharmaceutical products, from vaccines and biologics requiring strict 2°-8°C conditions to ambient healthcare goods maintained at 15°-25°C, as well as frozen medical shipments. With three import chambers and two export chambers, the facility ensures seamless handling across both inbound and outbound flows — critical for maintaining product integrity throughout the supply chain.
This development comes at a time when pharmaceutical logistics in Morocco and across Africa are experiencing rapid growth. Driven by improving healthcare infrastructure, expanding access to medicines, and rising demand for specialized treatments, the region is becoming an increasingly important market for global pharma distribution. Royal Air Maroc Cargo’s enhanced capabilities are designed to support this trajectory, offering reliable, compliant, and efficient temperature-controlled logistics solutions.
Beyond capacity expansion, the upgrade also incorporates advancements in energy efficiency and sustainability. The modernized facility will benefit from improved cooling technologies and is set to integrate solar energy, aligning operational performance with environmental responsibility—an increasingly important consideration for pharmaceutical manufacturers and logistics partners alike.
Importantly, Casablanca serves as the airline’s primary hub, enabling strong connectivity across its network. Complemented by cold storage facilities at key Moroccan airports including Fès, Rabat, Agadir, and Marrakesh, Royal Air Maroc Cargo is building a robust national cold chain ecosystem capable of supporting pharmaceutical and perishables flows across multiple gateways.
While perishables remain a core business segment, the airline’s growing focus on pharmaceuticals signals a strategic shift toward higher-value, time- and temperature-critical cargo. With its upgraded infrastructure and forward-looking approach, Royal Air Maroc Cargo is well-positioned to become a trusted partner in Africa’s evolving pharmaceutical logistics landscape.
