Over 5500 cargo-only flights since the start of the corona crisis
Air France KLM Martinair Cargo is striving to offer a global airfreight network to help keep supply chains running. This has always been essential, but even more so since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, ensuring that healthcare facilities as well as private citizens have access to medicines, medical equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE). Since the start of the crisis, they have gradually rebuilt their network mainly for relief-related shipments.
In recent months, AFKLMP Cargo have constantly added new destinations and flights to their network, mainly operating on a cargo-only basis. They have been using their passenger aircraft for cargo charter purposes and have fully utilized their full-freighter fleet. Since the start of the pandemic, they have operated more than 5500 cargo-only flights. AFKLMP Cargo currently offers a network spanning more than 95 long-haul destinations.
Shipping pharma and healthcare products is a core activity for AFKLMP Cargo
In recent years, AFKLMP Cargo have continuously improved their pharma and healthcare-related services by improving processes, training staff and forming dedicated service teams for pharma customers. They have invested in infrastructure at both of their hubs, Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS), and AFKLMP Cargo have fully merged their booking and service options via the digital portal myCargo, offering the transparency customers need.
Because they realise how important it is to guarantee the required quality, reliability and connectivity throughout supply chains, AFKLMP Cargo not only offer all required infrastructure and capabilities at their CDG and AMS hubs, but also have partnerships with GHAs at all relevant pharma destinations, providing state-of-the-art pharma handling services. Their investment in pharma logistics is paying off and their share in the pharma segment has grown significantly in recent years and months.
GertJan Roelands, SVP of Sales & Distribution at AFKLMP Cargo: “Shipping pharma and other medical-related goods is one of our core activities and a strategic priority. From the start, we prioritised pharma commercially and operationally. At AFKLMP Cargo, we have a department that is fully dedicated to pharma and healthcare solutions. With this in mind, Air France and KLM were among the first airlines to obtain IATA CEIV certification.”
Air France KLM Martinair Cargo ready to transport COVID-19 vaccines
Recently, AFKLMP Cargo have formed a taskforce to define what steps need to be taken to help ship Covid-19 vaccines. Working in close consultation with the pharma industry and related forwarders, they have assessed specific requirements for shipping Covid-19 vaccines. They subsequently adapted their operation in terms of equipment and dedicated monitoring & service, as well as the capacity they offer.
Enrica Calonghi, Global Head of Pharmaceutical Logistics at AFKLMP Cargo: “AFKLMP Cargo is ready to play a key role in the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines, thereby helping to ensure that as many people as possible around the globe will have access to vaccines in these challenging times.”
