DHL Global Forwarding launches pharma cold chain air link
The service is designed to support the movement of pharmaceutical products that require temperature-sensitive handling during transit.
DHL Global Forwarding has launched a temperature-controlled air freight connection between Brussels Airport and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, expanding its pharmaceutical logistics network between Europe and the United States. The new route connects one of Europe’s pharmaceutical cargo hubs with a growing life sciences cluster in the US and forms part of the company’s EUR 2 billion investment strategy for its Life Sciences & Healthcare division.
The new air freight corridor will operate six days a week using a dedicated Boeing 777 freighter aircraft. The service is designed to support the movement of pharmaceutical products, including biopharmaceuticals, cell and gene therapies, and clinical trial materials that require temperature-sensitive handling during transit.
The launch reflects increasing demand for controlled logistics infrastructure as pharmaceutical supply chains become more dependant on smaller shipments with tighter temperature requirements, particularly in the 2–8 degrees Celsius range. DHL Global Forwarding said the service has been developed with Good Distribution Practise-compliant cold chain processes across the shipment journey to maintain temperature integrity from origin to destination.
As part of the operational setup, the company has deployed temperature-control dollies to maintain continuity between aircraft and warehouse handling on the tarmac. DHL has also introduced passive packaging solutions using phase-change materials to support stable temperature conditions during transportation.
The Brussels-Cincinnati lane links Belgium’s established pharmaceutical logistics ecosystem with the life sciences and healthcare manufacturing base in the US Midwest. Cincinnati has seen growth in healthcare and pharmaceutical investments in recent years, while Brussels continues to serve as a gateway for pharmaceutical exports from Europe.
The company said the new route is part of a broader expansion strategy focused on healthcare logistics infrastructure and specialised freight handling capabilities. DHL Group has committed EUR 2 billion towards strengthening its Life Sciences & Healthcare operations globally, including investments in storage, handling, transport, and monitoring systems for healthcare cargo.
The development also reflects wider changes in pharmaceutical supply chains, where manufacturers are increasingly relying on logistics providers capable of handling specialised products with strict compliance requirements. Demand for controlled transportation solutions has risen alongside the growth of advanced therapies and clinical research shipments that require time-sensitive and temperature-monitored delivery networks.
