AirBridgeCargo achieves Envirotainer QEP accreditation at its Moscow Sheremetyevo hub and in Dallas

The continuing development of AirBridgeCargo's (ABC) products and services for pharmaceutical customers has seen the airline achieve Envirotainer's QEP accreditation at its global hub at Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport and in Dallas, one of its six online gateways in the U.S.

Envirotainer, which has been delivering innovative Active containers for secure cold chain solutions for over 30 years, created its Qualified Envirotainer Provider Training and Quality Program (QEP) to recognise transport service providers which demonstrate their ability to properly manage Envirotainer container shipments in accordance with Good Distribution Practices (GDP).

Fedor Novikov, Director Pharma, Global at AirBridgeCargo, said: "Gaining QEP accreditation is yet another sign of the commitment we are making to our pharmaceutical customers and further demonstrates our ability to protect the quality and integrity of temperature-sensitive pharma products. We have been heavily involved in pharma transportation since 2016 and our focus over the last 18 months has been to invest in developing the products and services our customers need. QEP accreditation is one of the benchmarks we and our customers recognise as being very important as we grow pharma volumes across our network."

The abcPharma product offering was developed in close consultation with customers by the pharma industry vertical team created by the airline, which includes dedicated and qualified staff at all levels; sales, customer service, operations, and procurement. This has led to ABC enforcing strict handling procedures and control processes required for pharma shipments during all stages of transportation. In November 2016, AirBridgeCargo also became the first airline in Russia and only the seventh carrier in the world to receive IATA CEIV Pharma certification, which addresses the need for more safety, security, compliance and efficiency through a globally consistent pharmaceutical product handling certification programme.

In developing its pharma product, ABC has conducted lane assessments to understand each international station's readiness to handle pharma shipments. This included strict audits of Ground Handling Agents and Ramp Agents as well as audits of trucking companies and other outsourced partners, including checks of their Quality Management Systems.

Chris Fore, Compliance Manager at Envirotainer, said: "As one of the world's fastest-growing all-cargo airlines and with a network serving major pharmaceutical markets and trade lanes in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific, AirBridgeCargo clearly realises its responsibility to its customers in terms of delivering a quality product to the end user- a patient. QEP accreditation sends a strong message about the high standards the airline is committed to delivering."