Pharma.Aero, in collaboration with Hong Kong International Airport, Miami International Airport and Cathay Cargo, have announced the successful validation of the Hong Kong-Miami pharmaceutical air corridor. Building on the foundational work of Pharma.Aero’s Corridor 2.0 project, this Corridor 3.0 project is the latest initiative focused on ensuring secure, efficient, and high-quality airport-to-airport transportation for time- and temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products.
Through the Corridor 3.0 project, Hong Kong and Miami airports, along with Cathay Cargo, have validated the end-to-end transport process for live shipments, leveraging the Template Protocol provided as a result of the Corridor 2.0 project in 2021. The collaboration resulted in a white paper to share with the industry the methodology and key findings of this latest initiative.
MIA Director and CEO, Ralph Cutié highlights the value of this collaborative initiative, stating: “Miami International Airport is honored to have partnered with fellow Pharma.Aero strategic airport member Hong Kong International Airport to validate the important Miami-Hong Kong pharma trade lane. The results were successful thanks to our CEIV Pharma-certified partners throughout the corridor, including Cathay Cargo and the two respective ground handling agents, LATAM Cargo at MIA and Cathay Cargo Terminal at HKG”, added Cutié.
Cissy Chan, Executive Director, Commercial, at Airport Authority Hong Kong, underscores HKIA’s commitment to operational excellence and collaboration: “As the pioneer airport in formulating and launching the airport-to-airport pharma corridor, Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) now continues to take the lead in Pharma Corridor 3.0 to enable live pharma shipments in transit between Miami and Hong Kong. This is another successful showcase to demonstrate the community's collaborative efforts and HKIA's commitment to operations excellence in handling temperature-sensitive cargo.
Located at the centre of the Asia-Pacific Region, HKIA is connected to half of the world's population within a 5-hour flight. Additionally, HKIA is the first airport in the world to attain the full suite of Center of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) certifications from the International Air Transport Association for the handling of high-value goods including pharmaceuticals, perishables, live animals and lithium batteries. Together with our strategic location, advanced infrastructure, and high service quality assurance, HKIA is an ideal gateway for pharmaceutical companies.”
Tom Owen, Cathay Director Cargo, states: “With our eight weekly 747 freighter flights from Hong Kong into Miami, we are delighted to now validate the Miami-Hong Kong pharma corridor, following on from our first Brussels-Hong Kong Pharma.Aero validated trade lane. Leveraging Pharma.Aero protocols, the Ultra Track technology, and IATA CEIV Pharma standards, we will ensure the safe and efficient transport of medical products from Miami to Hong Kong. Through the leadership of our dedicated teams and partners, Cathay Cargo will continue to advance global supply chain integrity and service excellence logistics in transporting healthcare products that matter to the world."
Frank Van Gelder, Secretary General of Pharma.Aero, emphasizes the significance of this collaborative initiative:"The validation of the Hong Kong-Miami corridor highlights the tangible, long-term value of Pharma.Aero’s collaborative projects, which are carefully designed with—and for—our members to advance excellence in global healthcare transportation. Building on the results of Corridor 2.0, this validation further demonstrates the real-world applicability and lasting benefits of Pharma.Aero’s initiatives. Corridor 3.0 Hong Kong-Miami exemplifies how these projects can translate into reliable, proven solutions that position our members at the forefront of industry standards."
Pharma.Aero initiated the pharma corridor validation initiatives in 2019, to create a standardized protocol in order to ensure quality and consistency in temperature-controlled pharmaceutical logistics. The first successful airport-to-airport pharma corridor, established in 2020 between Brussels Airport and Hong Kong International Airport, validated a process for secure handling and visibility in the supply chain. Building on this, Pharma Corridor Project 2.0 was launched in 2021 to refine and expand the protocol framework, testing a detailed Protocol Template on the Brussels–Miami route. This validated Protocol Template outlines critical requirements and performance indicators for end-to-end shipment monitoring, including a comprehensive operational roadmap with route descriptions, transport phases, stakeholder roles, and contingency planning. The template also includes annexes with route qualification guides, data logging procedures, and control point checklists, providing a robust toolset for Pharma.Aero members focused on maintaining high standards for time- and temperature-sensitive cargo.
