A new cold chain facility being built by Etihad Cargo, Etihad Airport Services, and Abu Dhabi Airports will more than increase the carrier’s pharmaceutical capability at the airport’s cargo village.
For Etihad Cargo’s PharmaLife handling and storage operations, the new 3,000-square-meter facility includes bulk loading docks with levellers, high-speed roll-up louvres, insulation, and a real-time temperature monitoring system. It also has more space for storage, extra build-up and breakdown zones, and enhanced cool chain facilities.
Additionally, the new facility will include brand-new thermal coverings specifically for x-ray imaging for customs examinations in a fully temperature-controlled environment. The carrier’s cool chain volumes have increased over the past few years, prompting the expansion of the facility.
The airline has moved more than 50,000 tonnes of cold chain supplies over the last 12 months, including medical and pharmaceutical supplies. This joint venture provides the perfect destination to link the Middle East to not only Asia and Europe, but also the US and Africa, said Martin Drew, VP of worldwide sales and cargo at Etihad Aviation Group. Life-saving medications and the most cutting-edge treatment options can be transported seamlessly around the world to those who need them the most.
Investment in the carrier’s infrastructure and Abu Dhabi hub will enable Etihad Cargo to address the future challenges of the pharmaceutical supply chain and will play an important role in co-creating a rigorous and future-proof healthcare ecosphere in the UAE and around the world, says a statement from the company.
The upcoming launch of this dedicated pharmaceutical storage and handling facility will augment AUH’s capabilities as a cargo hub and align with Abu Dhabi’s vision of evolving into a global business, pharmaceutical, and life science hub, said Steven Polmans, vice president of business development and regulatory affairs at Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone (ADAFZ).
The strong partnership between Etihad Cargo, Etihad Airport Services, and Abu Dhabi Airports will further establish Abu Dhabi as a significant provider of solutions and services in the logistics supply chain and grow pharmaceutical cargo volumes.
