First regional carrier to be awarded IATA’s CEIV designation for Pharma
Etihad Cargo has set a notable benchmark in the region by becoming the Middle East’s first carrier to be awarded IATA’s Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) certification in Pharmaceutical Logistics. The airline is one of only 16 carriers to hold this important certification worldwide.
The certifications cover both the airline operations of Etihad Cargo, as well as cargo handling and warehousing at its hub in Abu Dhabi International Airport, underlining Etihad’s excellence in maintaining product integrity and managing high-value, temperature-sensitive shipments for the pharmaceuticals and life sciences industries.
“Etihad Cargo is honoured to become the region’s first carrier to be awarded IATA’s CEIV designation for Pharma. Since we launched our refreshed strategy in early 2018, a lot of focus has gone towards enhancing our premium product verticals and offering the highest quality and reliability standards to our customers,” commented Abdulla Mohamed Shadid, Managing Director Cargo and Logistics, Etihad Aviation Group.
Etihad’s cargo handling subsidiary Etihad Airport Services has also been awarded the CEIV Pharma certification. This dual certification reaffirms Etihad’s ability to offer customers a seamless end-to-end temperature-controlled solution and reinforces Abu Dhabi’s positioning as a key global logistics centre.
Etihad has undergone a major enhancement program to its facilities, systems and processes to meet the stringent standards that CEIV Pharma demands, which combines IATA’s Temperature Control Regulations, GDP best practices, and other international benchmarks.
These enhancements include the planned use of cool dollies at Abu Dhabi International Airport, thermal blankets both in Abu Dhabi and at key stations globally, and a tie up with additional active container suppliers to expand the options of temperature-controlled containers across its global network, among other initiatives.
According to Shadid, Etihad has also recently launched two new products, FlightValet and FreshForward, both of which have seen remarkable successes, and in October the carrier completed its digital migration to the leading iCargo technology platform.
