American Airlines Cargo enhances cold-chain network with expansion of CEIV Pharma certification

American Airlines Cargo today announces that John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) have joined its list of US stations certified by IATA’s Center of Excellence for Independent Validators in Pharmaceutical Logistics, or CEIV Pharma. The certifications underscore the carrier’s commitment to quality in Life Sciences handling, as the process evaluates safety, compliance, consistency, and training at each station to achieve certification.

The carrier also recently achieved re-certification of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), which were first certified in 2021, and still maintains certification of Miami International Airport (MIA) and its headquarters.

In addition to these major hubs, American also operates out of more than 30 CEIV- or GDP-certified locations around the world – most notably including Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS), Dublin Airport (DUB), Frankfurt Airport (FRA), Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport (CDG), Rio de Janeiro Galeão International Airport (GIG) and Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG). This robust network ensures expert transport of pharmaceutical and temperature-controlled handling at a global scale, making American an integral player within air cargo pharmaceutical market.

“The new CEIV certifications underscore our commitment to the safe and effective handling of pharmaceuticals and other Life Sciences commodities. We are committed to meeting our customers’ needs while ensuring compliance and excellence in the services we provide, and this is an example of that,” says Eric Mathieu, Head of Customer Experience for American Airlines Cargo. “We will continue to grow our cold-chain network and focus on how we can offer customers the best products and network for temperature-sensitive shipments.”

To further support its cold-chain offering, the carrier currently has three master lease agreements for temperature-controlled containers, including the Releye® RLP and RAP active containers from Envirotainer, RKN, RAP, APS single and double units from CSafe, and the Pegasus ULD® passive container from Sonoco ThermoSafe – the world’s first FAA and EASA-approved advanced passive bulk temperature-controlled ULD container for pharmaceutical use. All containers are currently available for lease with American Airlines Cargo.