Logistics & Warehousing

Emirates SkyCargo opens new facility

Emirates SkyCargo’s new facility for pharmaceutical products at Dubai International Airport

Emirates SkyPharma, Emirates SkyCargo’s new purpose-built facility dedicated exclusively to the timely and secure transport of temperature sensitive pharmaceutical shipments at Dubai International Airport (DXB), has been officially opened.

The facility was inaugurated by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline and Group.

“Pharmaceuticals are one of the most important products we transport because of the impact on people’s lives and communities across the world,” said Nabil Sultan, Emirates divisional senior vice president, Cargo.

“As a leader in the global air cargo industry we decided that it was not only important for us to build state-of-the-art cool chain facilities for the transport of pharma products but to also go the extra mile and ensure the compliance of our operations against the highest international standards. Our customers can continue to rest easy knowing that shipping their temperature-sensitive goods with Emirates SkyCargo is a safe choice,” he said.

The new purpose-built Emirates SkyPharma facility, part of the new 11,000-sq-m extension of Emirates SkyCentral terminal at Dubai International Airport, offers 4,000 sq m of space dedicated to pharmaceutical cargo. It also features temperature controlled zones (2-8 degC and 15- 25 degC), 88 temperature controlled individual positions in the automated ULD (aircraft pallet) handling system and 5 temperature controlled acceptance and delivery truck docks.

Emirates SkyCargo has also been awarded the certification of compliance under the EU Good Distribution Practice guidelines (GDP) for medicinal products for human use by Bureau Veritas. The certification validates the carrier’s adherence to the strict guidelines on the transport and handling of pharmaceutical products and covers all Emirates SkyCargo handling activities for pharmaceutical products at its hub in Dubai.   

The airline said it is the first cargo airline in the world that has obtained GDP certification for its hub operations covering two airports and the 24/7 bonded trucking service that connects cargo between them.

The carrier also operates the largest GDP certified area in the world offering 8,600 sq m of combined handling space dedicated for pharmaceutical products at Dubai International Airport and Dubai World Central, the airline said.