Air India delivers first airport-to-door pharma cargo to Brussels
The shipment, commissioned by SUN Pharma, was delivered in 36 hours via Paris.
On May 21, 2025, Air India completed its first airport-to-door international cargo delivery, transporting six tonnes of temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products from Delhi to Brussels.
The shipment, commissioned by SUN Pharma, was delivered in 36 hours via Paris using a combination of air freight and a cooled Road Feeder Service (RFS) truck. The delivery marks Air India’s move from traditional airport-to-airport logistics to offering integrated delivery solutions.
The shipment, packed into four lower-deck pallets, required a stable temperature between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius to maintain drug efficacy. After arriving at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, the cargo was transferred to a temperature-controlled RFS truck, which ensured compliance with pharma-grade transportation standards until reaching the consignee’s warehouse in Brussels. “With the GDP certification, we have now become India’s only carrier with trained staff to manage active pharmaceuticals,” said Ramesh Mamidala, Head of Cargo, Air India.
Air India recently received the Good Distribution Practises (GDP) certification, which confirms adherence to international guidelines for pharmaceutical transport. “These first shipments of our new airport-to-door service are a step forward in progressively pivoting our cargo offering from ‘airport-to-airport’ to world-class ‘airport-to-door’ services, delivered to the highest standards. It’s not just about getting it there; it’s about getting it there right – with precision,” added Mamidala.
Air India operates over 5,000 weekly flights, covering 45 cities within India and 43 destinations across 31 countries and five continents, providing the widest point-to-point coverage from India to international destinations across ultra-long, long, medium, and short-haul routes.
In 2024-25, Air India moved over 4,000 tonnes of pharma goods globally. Going forward, airport-to-door deliveries will be a key part of its cargo business growth, creating more opportunities.
