Avianca Cargo has strengthened its pharmaceutical logistics offering in Europe after achieving Good Distribution Practice (GDP) certification for its operations in Madrid and Barcelona.
The certification, awarded by independent testing, inspection and certification organisation SGS, covers the airline’s handling, storage, distribution and transportation processes for pharmaceutical and healthcare products at the two Spanish gateways, according to Avianca Cargo.
The certification is based on Good Distribution Practice principles designed to help maintain the quality and integrity of medicinal products throughout the distribution chain.
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Strengthening Pharmaceutical Cargo Capabilities
Avianca Cargo said the new certification forms part of its strategy to expand its specialised pharmaceutical transportation services in Europe.
The carrier already holds IATA CEIV Pharma certification, an industry programme developed to strengthen quality, safety, compliance and efficiency in the handling and transportation of pharmaceutical products. IATA describes CEIV Pharma as a globally recognised certification covering areas including quality management, personnel, infrastructure, documentation, transportation and operational procedures.
Diogo Elias, CEO of Avianca Cargo, said the GDP certification for Madrid and Barcelona represents another step in the carrier’s pharmaceutical strategy.
He added that the certification, together with Avianca Cargo’s CEIV Pharma status, reinforces the airline’s focus on safe, consistent and traceable handling of pharmaceutical shipments.
Avianca Cargo said it completed the certification process for the two locations in six months, compared with the 12 months it typically expects for the audit process.
Madrid and Barcelona as European Pharma Gateways
The airline is positioning Madrid and Barcelona as strategic points within its European pharmaceutical network, supporting the consolidation of shipments from different European markets before onward transportation.
Avianca Cargo said the two locations give it greater operational control while providing pharmaceutical customers with a specialised supply chain connecting Europe with major international markets.
The focus reflects the particular requirements of pharmaceutical logistics, where temperature control, documented procedures, traceability and consistent handling are critical to protecting product integrity.
IATA similarly identifies pharmaceutical air cargo as a specialised segment requiring appropriate infrastructure, equipment, harmonised procedures and close coordination among cold-chain stakeholders.
Building on CEIV Pharma Credentials
Avianca Cargo has an established track record with IATA’s specialised cargo certification programmes.
IATA previously reported that Avianca Cargo pursued CEIV Pharma, CEIV Fresh and CEIV Lithium Batteries certifications as part of a wider programme to strengthen its specialised cargo operations. The organisation said Avianca Cargo became the first airline in the Americas to achieve certification in three CEIV categories at the time.
The airline subsequently expanded its certification portfolio, with IATA documenting its CEIV certifications across multiple stations and specialised cargo categories.
For pharmaceutical shippers, the combination of GDP and CEIV Pharma credentials provides additional evidence of the processes and controls being applied across the supply chain, although the two programmes serve different certification purposes.
Expansion Planned for Additional European Stations
Avianca Cargo said it intends to extend GDP Pharma certification to additional strategic European stations, with London, Paris and Lisbon targeted for certification by 2027.
The planned expansion would broaden the carrier’s certified pharmaceutical handling footprint and support its efforts to capture additional healthcare and life sciences cargo moving between Europe and the Americas.
The move comes as pharmaceutical manufacturers and logistics providers place increasing emphasis on standardised handling, traceability and temperature-control capabilities across international airfreight networks.
For Avianca Cargo, strengthening certification at key European gateways provides another element of its strategy to expand its specialised cargo proposition and build a more consistent pharmaceutical logistics network across the Atlantic.
