News

Pharma Logistics Masterclass Recognized in Tokyo as Momentum Builds for 5th Edition in Japan

BRUSSELS and MIAMI, 15 December 2020

Air Cargo Industry Improves its Readiness to Transport COVID-19 Vaccines, but More Collaboration is Required

Pharma.Aero, together with TIACA released a special report for air cargo, pharmaceuticals and life sciences professionals detailing the requirements and airfreight preparedness for COVID-19 vaccines transportation. 

The Sunrays project report shows that 46% of air cargo industry stakeholders, including airlines, freight forwarders, ground handlers, airport operators and IT solution providers, now feel well prepared for the transportation of COVID-19 vaccines, a significant increase compared to only 28% feeling ready two months ago. Although the improvement is seen across the whole industry, ground handlers, who were the least prepared in September, reported the strongest jump in preparedness.

“Industry has clearly stepped up its efforts to get ready for the largest logistics effort ever seen and with 79% feeling more prepared than 3 months ago, we applaud the readiness progress the air cargo community has made,” stated Nathan De Valck, Chairman of Pharma.Aero’s Board of Directors and member of the Sunrays project. “It is very encouraging to see that the majority of our industry has established working relationships with vaccine manufacturers, dedicated teams in place and collaborates with their supply chain partners to handle the logistics of COVID-19 vaccines.”

The report also examines currently known requirements for COVID-19 vaccine logistics for the front runner manufacturers such as AstraZeneca and University of Oxford, Pfizer and BioNTech, Moderna, GSK and Sanofi, J&J, as well as the procurement and logistics strategies by individual countries and international bodies, like the EU and COVAX, and locations of vaccine trials and production.

Areas of Priority

“Although the air cargo industry has scaled up its capabilities, collaboration and readiness in the past couple of months, and COVID-19 vaccines are getting approved for wide distribution, we still live in a world with a lot of unknowns. As new vaccine requirements, purchase deals and regulatory approvals are announced everyday air cargo needs to work hand-in-hand to be agile enough to deliver vaccines safely at scale” – said Emir Pineda, Member of TIACA’s Board of Directors.

Air cargo players need to continue working together in full transparency to ensure integrated, fast, secure and reliable delivery of vaccines, concretely:

Strengthening industry collaboration 

  • Vaccine manufacturers need to share information needed by all their logistics providers as early as possible to allow them to make needed investment in time.
  • Air cargo players should ensure their sub-contractors and supply chain partners receive the right level of information as early as possible.
  • Industry needs to adopt a local air cargo community approach to strengthen collaboration at local levels.

Ensuring security 

  • Security and cyber-security measures need to be put in place to avoid theft and counterfeit.

Ramping-up capabilities 

  • Dry ice, active containers, trained staff, and cold chain space availability should be secured early.
  • Infrastructure investment decisions should be made as early as possible.

Improving visibility 

  • Each air cargo stakeholder should map its existing capabilities at each location and make this information available, using information sharing platforms like the IATA ONE Source, Validaide or others.
  • The use of tracking and monitoring devices is encouraged and the approval processes for their safe use in-flight needs to start as soon as possible.
  • The rollout of digital solutions and data sharing platforms should be accelerated.

Removing barriers 

  • Governments, customs authorities, and border agencies should be ready to facilitate and expedite all COVID-19-related goods.
  • International organizations, NGOs and donors should support cool chain capacity building efforts in least developed countries to ensure no one is left behind in the upcoming global immunization campaign.

 

Information on Project Sunrays can be found HERE (https://Pharma.Aero/sunrays)

The White Paper itself can be downloaded from the Pharma.Aero website

 

For further information please contact:

Frank Van Gelder, secgen@Pharma.Aero
+32 477 950 521, Pharma.Aero VZW

Rachael Negron, press@tiaca.org

+1 786 265 7011, TIACA

PLMC 2025 speakers at Belexpo June 2025

The 2025 edition of the Pharma Logisticst Masterclass marks a strategic collaboration between Pharma.Aero, the University of Antwerp, Kansai Airports, ANA Cargo, and NX GROUP (Nippon Express Group).On Thursday, June 19th, several of our upcoming speakers offered a powerful preview of what to expect this September at the Masterclass durin a panel session hosted by the Belexpo – the Belgian Pavilion at World Expo in Osaka. Entitled “Global Health, Local Strengths – Connecting Centers of Excellence in R&D and Pharma Logistics”, the session focused on how cutting-edge logistics, academic research, and real-world innovation are shaping the future of global health. Highlights included contributions from:

  • Prof. Wouter Dewulf – Academic Director, Centre for Maritime & Air Transport Management, University of Antwerp & Antwerp Management School

  • Prof. Roel Gevaers – University of Antwerp & Antwerp Management School

  • Prof. Shinya Hanaoka – School of Environment and Society, Tokyo Institute of Technology

  • Prof. Pierre Van Damme – Director, Vaccinopolis & Centre for the Evaluation of Vaccination, University of Antwerp

  • Frank Van Gelder – Secretary General, Pharma.Aero

This growing momentum reflects the Masterclass’s role as a global hub for bridging academia and industry in pharma logistics.

The Pharma Logistics Masterclass offers a unique opportunity to engage with thought leaders, explore the latest in supply chain innovation, and network with peers from around the world. The 2025 edition marks a strategic collaboration between Pharma.Aero, the University of Antwerp, Kansai Airports, ANA Cargo, and NX GROUP (Nippon Express Group).

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