New air routes connect European and North American healthcare hubs with major Asian markets, expanding temperature-controlled capacity and supporting the transport of pharmaceuticals and other sensitive medical products.
DHL Global Forwarding, the air and ocean freight specialist of DHL Group, has launched six dedicated air corridors connecting Europe and North America with healthcare and pharmaceutical hubs across Asia, expanding its temperature-controlled logistics network.
The new routes link Liège and Brussels with Shanghai and Singapore, while Cincinnati connects with Singapore, Tokyo Narita and Seoul Incheon. The corridors are designed to give pharmaceutical customers more routing options and access to temperature-controlled capacity while supporting the handling of sensitive healthcare products.
“These new corridors further expand our Cold Chain Network into strategically important healthcare markets across Asia,” Henk Venema, global head of air freight at DHL Global Forwarding, said. The routes respond to customer demand for reliable connections between major healthcare markets and give the company greater control over quality during transportation, he said.
Most flights operate within DHL’s dedicated network, primarily using the company’s yellow-branded aircraft. Keeping shipments within the network reduces handovers and gives DHL greater control over cargo handling throughout the journey, the company said.
DHL deploys Boeing 777 freighters on the routes, with three compartments offering different temperature settings to accommodate cargo requirements.
Network expansion
The six corridors build on the launch of the Brussels-Cincinnati air corridor earlier this year. DHL’s Cold Chain Network combines dedicated air routes, specialized handling procedures and temperature-controlled infrastructure to transport healthcare products within required temperature ranges.
The network uses thermal blankets and validated operational processes designed to limit exposure to temperatures outside specified ranges during handling and transfers.
The expansion supports DHL Health Logistics’ efforts to transport pharmaceuticals, biologics, vaccines, clinical trial materials and other healthcare products across major global trade lanes. Its solutions include thermal blankets and phase-change materials intended to provide controlled and cost-competitive transportation.
Singapore and Cincinnati gateways
The new Brussels-Singapore and Cincinnati-Singapore routes strengthen Singapore’s role as a gateway in DHL’s global healthcare logistics network, the company said.
The routes build on previously announced healthcare logistics investments in Singapore, including a planned DHL Singapore Cold Chain Hub. The facility is expected to provide storage and handling at 2-8 degrees Celsius and 15-25 degrees Celsius, alongside direct airside access.
Cincinnati serves as a gateway for U.S. customers shipping healthcare products to Asian markets. DHL is also expanding temperature-controlled handling and storage capacity through airside and off-airport investments, according to the company.
Separately, DHL Global Forwarding is expanding its life sciences and healthcare facility in Indianapolis, about a 2.5-hour drive from Cincinnati. The expansion will increase floor space for operations and pallet storage at temperatures of 2-8 degrees Celsius.
Cold Chain Network
DHL’s Health Logistics Cold Chain Network combines dedicated healthcare corridors, specialized handling processes and temperature-controlled infrastructure to support the transportation of pharmaceuticals, biologics, vaccines, clinical trial materials and other healthcare products.
The company said the six new corridors are intended to improve connectivity, operational control and reliability for temperature-sensitive shipments across international supply chains.
