Chicago Airport launches new pharma trade lane from India

Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) announced the recent initiation of a new GDP-certified pharmaceutical trade lane from India. The first shipment was undertaken by Penta Freight India on behalf of an India-based pharmaceutical company, says an official press release from Chicago Airport. The shipment was carried by Maersk Air Cargo-Magma Boeing 747-400F scheduled freighter flight from Frankfurt Hahn Airport, Germany on an interlined flight from Mumbai International Airport to Frankfurt Main Airport where it was then transferred through Maersk’s Frankfurt cargo hub to Frankfurt Hahn Airport.

The shipment marks the establishment of Chicago Airport’s partnership with Chicago-based pharma and life sciences logistics, trucking and warehousing company, Xperts Group. The pharmaceutical cargo was transported from the aircraft directly into a reefer truck operated by Xperts Group, facilitated by Menzies Aviation, the release added.

 Executive Director, Chicago Airport says: “The establishment at RFD of our GDP and GSP process for the handling of import pharma and life science products comes in direct response to a growing demand by the pharma sector in India, who along with their freight forwarding agents, want to improve the efficiency of the handling of these sensitive shipments by shipping them though a less congested airport system.”

An official spokesperson for Penta Freight adds: “Chicago is one of the main air cargo import markets for India pharma products and it is a market that is growing rapidly. As a major freight forwarder in India, focused on the pharma sector, we continuously examine alternative airport routes/possibilities for pharma cargo shipments, especially airport solutions that can help our clients lower their costs, risks and importantly their Co2 emissions. Because flights into RFD are direct in approach and the aircraft is at the ramp ready to unload within five minutes of landing, the Co2 savings run into the tens of tons per shipment.

“By being able to unload the pharma directly from the aircraft and into the reefer truck, we massively reduce risks and costs associated with the traditional airside air cargo airport handling process for pharma. Now that we have proven the GDP-GSP pharma handling process at RFD we anticipate growing this trade lane from India and feed more pharma into the USA and especially RFD.”