DHL initiates air freight service between Europe and US for temperature-sensitive products

DHL Global Forwarding, the air and ocean freight specialist within Deutsche Post DHL, has launched a temperature-controlled air freight service between Brussels and Cincinnati.

The DHL Aviation Boeing 747-400 freighter aircraft will operate the eight-and-a-half hour flight six times per week in each direction and offers reserved space for life sciences products. Real-time tracking and temperature measurement data is available on each flight and can be accessed via a dedicated web portal.

The aircraft employed on the route have four controllable temperature zones that are monitored constantly. Temperature measurement and shipment tracking is an integral part of DHL’s Thermonet product and LifeConEx Premium service. All airport handling processes, including those on the apron, are handled by DHL in full adherence to Good Distribution Practice requirements.

All operations in Brussels will be handled in DHL Global Forwarding’s dedicated and GDP certified Life Science facility. In DHL’s global hub in Cincinnati, GDP aligned processes have been implemented to guarantee least possible exposure to ambient temperatures. Furthermore, the average transit time between the aircraft and temperature controlled storage is less than 30 minutes. If required, DHL Global Forwarding can additionally offer pre- and post-transportation by using the cold chain road networks of DHL Freight in Europe and in the US using its qualified temperature controlled trucking partners.

'With this service we are further enhancing our dedication to the Life Sciences industry and the changing world of regulations within the industry sector,' said Ingo Alexander Rahn, EVP Global Head of Air Freight, DHL Global Forwarding.' This is the first of many routes with a dedicated airfreight service for temperature-controlled products. More of them are planned.'