Rise of cell and gene therapies is reshaping healthcare supply chains, reinforcing air cargo’s critical role in time-sensitive deliveries
The rapid evolution of personalised medicine is creating new opportunities for the global air cargo industry, with Cathay Cargo highlighting the growing demand for specialised air freight solutions to support the transportation of high-value, time-critical pharmaceutical products.
According to Toby Griffiths, Head of Cargo Global Sales & Customer Solutions at Cathay Cargo, emerging trends in personalised healthcare—particularly cell and gene therapies (CGT)—are transforming pharmaceutical supply chains, with more treatments being delivered directly to patients rather than traditional healthcare facilities. This shift is expected to increase reliance on air freight for temperature-controlled, door-to-door logistics over long distances.
Writing in the airline’s Cargo Pulse newsletter, Griffiths described the development as a potentially significant transformation for the healthcare logistics sector.
“This represents a potentially material industry shift, leading to an even more complex and diverse end-to-end supply chain,” he said. “With some of these products being high-value and highly time-sensitive, there will always be a requirement for air freight over longer distances.”
Air Cargo’s Strategic Role in Advanced Therapies
Unlike conventional pharmaceutical products, many advanced therapies have extremely short shelf lives, in some cases remaining viable for only a few days. These treatments require highly controlled transportation environments, combining precise temperature management with rapid transit times to preserve product integrity and patient safety.
As personalised medicine continues to expand, air cargo is expected to play an increasingly strategic role in ensuring these life-saving therapies reach hospitals, clinics and patients without delay.
Griffiths noted that while personalised door-to-door pharmaceutical deliveries are currently gaining momentum in the United States, the trend could become a global phenomenon over the coming years.
“If this is starting to happen in the US now, we need to start thinking about what it might look like globally in five years,” he observed.
Expanding Opportunities for Airlines
Today, a significant share of global pharmaceutical exports originates from manufacturing hubs in Europe and North America. Although Cathay Cargo’s strongest market presence remains in Asia, Griffiths believes the carrier is well positioned to capture a greater share of international pharmaceutical traffic through its specialised healthcare logistics capabilities and extensive global network.
“Our brand recognition is stronger in Asia than in these places. But we have a strong pharma product and a robust network behind us,” he said.
Cathay Cargo has continued to invest in certified pharmaceutical handling, temperature-controlled facilities and specialised logistics services designed to meet the stringent requirements of the global life sciences industry.
Different Medicines, Different Transport Modes
While innovative therapies continue to drive demand for air freight, industry experts note that transport modes are becoming increasingly segmented based on product characteristics.
John Lee, Regional Manager – Healthcare Vertical, North Asia, at Expeditors, explained that many over-the-counter (OTC) pharmaceutical products have gradually shifted to ocean freight as improvements in passive packaging technologies and cost considerations make sea transport a viable option.
“If we’re talking about OTC products, then these go by sea mostly,” Lee said. “Modal selection is becoming more segmented, with ocean freight supporting certain products, while air remains critical for time- and temperature-sensitive shipments.”
However, he emphasised that innovative biologics, specialty medicines and advanced therapies continue to depend on air transportation because of their limited shelf life and strict temperature requirements.
“If we’re looking at innovative, high-end drugs, most will move by air because many of these products have a very short shelf life,” Lee added.
A Growing Market for Pharma Logistics
The continued growth of biologics, personalised medicine and cell and gene therapies is reshaping pharmaceutical logistics worldwide. As healthcare supply chains become increasingly specialised, airlines, freight forwarders and logistics providers are investing heavily in certified cold chain infrastructure, real-time shipment visibility and end-to-end temperature-controlled solutions.
For the air cargo industry, the shift represents more than a new business opportunity. It reinforces aviation’s indispensable role in the global healthcare ecosystem, where speed, reliability and regulatory compliance are essential to delivering life-saving medicines safely and efficiently.
