Following the successful completion of IATA’s CEIV Pharma certification process for routes between Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean last fall, the cargo division of the Spanish carrier, Air Europa Cargo (UX), obtained the same approval for its Madrid-Barajas cargo hub. The step was preceded by a thorough technical audit supervised by IATA experts.
This extended accreditation validates the carrier’s ability to handle and manage the air transport of pharmaceutical products under global safety and temperature-controlled standards as defined by the International Air Transport Association. “The certification [of the MAD hub] supports efforts to raise service excellence and guarantees that shipments in this category have all the necessary preservation guarantees,” the company explained in a statement.
Growing line of business
The air transport of medical products and pharmaceuticals has increased remarkably since the COVID-19 pandemic faded out in 2022. During the Corona period, passenger traffic came to a near standstill due to travelers’ fears of contagion.
Following the recovery of the market, Air Europa Cargo enjoys an increasing demand for pharma and healthcare products. “This business, that requires special handling utmost care and expertise, has become an important source of revenue for our airline,” a manager told CargoForwarder Global. To meet the transport demand of forwarders and shippers, the cargo unit manages the lower deck capacity of its fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners on long-haul routes. “The certification supports efforts to raise service excellence and guarantees that shipments in this category have all the necessary preservation guarantees,” the company said in a statement.
Dreamliners are UX’s workhorses on long-haul flights
For the safe handling and carriage of health products and to help airlines adapt their procedures to the requirements established in accordance with the demands of the pharmaceutical industry, IATA created the Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV), which is responsible for carrying out the audits that grant the CEIV Pharma certification. Thanks to this, a common base of standards and norms has been established, including ground handling practices, which contribute to ensuring regulatory compliance, as well as safeguarding the integrity of the pharma supply chain from beginning to end.
Air Europa (IATA: UX) does not operate any freighter aircraft but a mixed fleet of Boeing 737-800 and MAX-8 on regional routes, supported by B787-800/-900 for transcontinental services. While the passenger B787-800 can accommodate 10 tons in its lower deck compartment per flight, its sister model B787-900 is able to uplift 18 tons per departure. Both Boeing variants are operated on routes between Spain and Latin America, including leisure destinations in the Caribbean.
On 09NOV25, Turkish Airlines signed a deal to buy an up to27% stake in Air Europa for €300 million, with Founder and Managing Director, Juan José Hidalgo, retaining majority control.
