Not waiting, but acting with foresight. This is the motto of The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) and the interest group Pharma.Aero, who have joint forces – a premier – to pave the
way for a seamless and efficient air carriage of Covid-19 vaccines once they are produced and globally distributed in large quantities. To be ready and prepared from Day One, different working
groups are being set up, composed of experts representing the various stakeholders in the supply chain of air cargo and pharmaceuticals. Their mutual aim is to develop four work packages which –
once combined – provide useful guidance for the air freight industry as to how to best manage the transport of the delicate product.

Air freight saves lives
In their joint announcement, both organizations point out that in the past couple of months, air freight has once again demonstrated its vital role in the global economy and distribution of
essential medical supplies. This will also happen in the months ahead, when air freight will once more be responsible for an important contribution to the global public good and in fighting this
pandemic, by playing a vital role in the COVID-19 vaccine global supply chain.
The aim of the joint advance announced by TIACA and Pharma.Aero, is to provide the air freight industry with more clarity of the demands, expectations and supply chain quality requirements,
including but not restricted to critical trade lanes, air cargo capacity, handling and storage, and track and trace requirements, when it comes to the transportation of the vaccines. At the same
time, shippers will gain more understanding of the capabilities of the various logistics players. This will ensure that once the vaccine is available in the market, the air cargo industry will be
ready to respond to the needs of the shippers and transport the vaccines in optimal conditions to all corners of the globe.

Immense challenges lie ahead
“COVID-19 vaccine delivery will be one of the biggest logistical challenges in modern history. No one company can own the end-to-end vaccine supply chain,” said Neel Jones Shah, TIACA
board member and Global Head of Airfreight at Flexport. “I’m proud to be a member of the TIACA and Pharma.Aero working group, which is doing the critical work of connecting all vaccine supply
chain stakeholders to foster effective communication and collaboration. We need to start working together now to ensure the industry is prepared when the time comes.”  

“Setting up reliable end-to-end air transportation for pharma shippers is part of the vision and mission of Pharma.Aero. Amongst our members i.e. life sciences and pharmaceutical shippers,
certified airport communities and air cargo operators, we have a track record of project-based collaboration,” Nathan De Valck, chairman of Pharma.Aero, stated. “As a result, Pharma.Aero
is well-positioned to make a valuable contribution in preparing the air cargo industry for this immense challenge.”

The results produced by the working group will be shared with the industry through white papers and webinars in later stages of the program which aims to complete by end of 2020.

Heiner Siegmund

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