Swissport expands pharma network to 24 certified centres

Swissport has expanded its global pharmaceutical logistics network by adding Düsseldorf to its list of certified pharma centres, taking the total number of IATA CEIV Pharma-certified facilities to 24 worldwide.

The Düsseldorf facility has received IATA’s CEIV Pharma certification, strengthening Swissport’s focus on safe, compliant and reliable handling of pharmaceutical cargo across its global operations.

The expansion comes as Swissport increases investment in temperature-controlled infrastructure in key life science markets. In 2025, the company has already added dedicated pharma facilities in Manchester, New York JFK and Shanghai. According to Dirk Goovaerts, CEO Continental Europe, Middle East, Africa, India and Global Cargo Chair at Swissport, the move reflects changes in pharmaceutical manufacturing towards biologics and temperature-sensitive therapies, which require specialised handling infrastructure on a global scale. He said facilities such as Düsseldorf, supported by certified networks and digital monitoring systems, help the company meet rising market demand while maintaining safety and compliance.

Swissport currently operates 65 pharma-capable warehouses, with 24 facilities certified under recognised industry standards such as IATA CEIV Pharma, the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and Good Distribution Practice guidelines.

In 2024, Swissport handled five million tonnes of freight globally, with pharmaceutical shipments accounting for about 10% of total volumes. The company said this segment continues to grow in both scale and operational complexity.

The latest expansion also builds on Swissport’s ‘Cool and Connect’ air cargo facility launched in Basel in 2024, which serves as the model for its pharma-dedicated logistics operations. This approach is now being replicated across key life science hubs, with particular emphasis on 2–8°C cool container infrastructure.