Exclusive: Condor receives CEIV Pharma Certification

The leisure airline’s Cargo division has obtained the IATA seal of approval as CEIV Pharma carrier. This hallmark, issued by the Center of Excellence for Independent Validators in Pharmaceutical Logistics, confirms that Condor complies with the globally recognized standards for transporting and handling sensitive as well as temperature critical pharmaceutical products.

Last week, the atmosphere at the Cargo division’s HQ near Frankfurt Airport was particularly cheerful. Management announced that Condor Cargo had officially obtained the IATA CEIV Pharma Certification. With this globally recognized standard, the airline received the knighthood forthe proper handling of pharmaceuticals throughout the entire logistics chain, considering key paradigms such as safety, compliance, efficiency and sustainability.

Condor Cargo is lifted to a higher level

Two things are particularly noteworthy about this process: According to available data, Condor is the first leisure airline worldwide whose freight division received this IATA hallmark. Secondly, the entire validation process, i.e. the review of all processes in connection with pharma transports by external experts, took less than a year. A record-breaking short period of time for the sequence of very complex checks.
Thilo Schäfer, Director Cargo at Condor, is in a correspondingly good mood. Thanks to the CEIV Pharma Certification, Condor Cargo’s entire business segment has been significantly upgraded. With this step, the cargo division of his airline is a pioneer in the entire holiday aviation industry. “The transportation of pharmaceutical & healthcare products is highly sensitive by nature. We are therefore delighted that Condor has been awarded the CEIV Pharma certification, demonstrating our ability to meet critical challenges such as maintaining cold chain integrity, speed, and reliability.”

CEIV Pharma certified routes will grow

He points out that this segment plays an increasingly important role in air freight and is having a positive effect on Condor’s annual financial result.
The validation initially applies to some of Condor’s core routes. Currently, the transportation of pharmaceutical shipments following CEIV standards is available on the carrier’s nonstop flights between Frankfurt (FRA), Toronto (YYZ), New York (JFK), and Miami (MIA). “We plan to continuously expand this offering and extend it to additional routes between Frankfurt and other global destinations,” explains Dimitri Mougoyannis, Director Ground Operations. “Our goal is to provide our customers with a high-quality solution on key pharmaceutical trade lanes.”
On long-haul routes, the leisure airline currently operates 18 brand-new Airbus A330-900neo passenger aircraft, each offering a cargo capacity in their lower decks of 10 to 14 tons per flight, significantly expanding Condor’s cargo capabilities. Three more A-30-900s have also been ordered and should be delivered by the end of 2028. Following the renewal of the long-haul fleet in 2024, Condor has now turned its focus to its short-and medium-haul fleet. With the addition of brand-new A32xneo aircraft to the fleet, Condor is about to become an Airbus-only fleet operator by the end of this year. Cargo chief Schäfer told CFG that CFG Cargo’s* “product portfolio expansion and this new offering have already been well received by our customers, and we are committed to further strengthening this segment in the coming months.” The evolution of Condor Cargo continues, the executive concludes.

* CFG = Condor’s ICAO code