Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) has announced the launch of a new GDP-certified pharmaceutical cargo trade lane, enhancing the efficiency of pharmaceutical shipments from India to the US.

The first shipment under this initiative was recently managed by Penta Freight, one of India’s leading freight forwarders specialising in pharmaceutical logistics, on behalf of a prominent Indian pharmaceutical company.

The shipment began its journey at Mumbai International Airport (BOM) and was carried to Frankfurt Main Airport (FRA) before being transferred through Maersk’s cargo hub at Frankfurt Hahn Airport (HHN). It was then flown to RFD on a Maersk Air Cargo-Magma Boeing 747-400F freighter.

This new trade lane highlights RFD’s growing importance in facilitating pharmaceutical shipments to Chicago, which is a rapidly expanding market for Indian pharma products.

The initiative is supported by a partnership between RFD and Xperts Group, a Chicago-based logistics company specialising in pharmaceutical and life sciences handling, trucking and warehousing.

The entire process – from the aircraft’s landing to the cargo being ready for breakdown in the Chicago area – was completed within two hours, with the freighter being unloaded in less than five minutes after touchdown.

As demand for pharmaceutical imports from India continues to rise, RFD’s new capabilities position the airport as a key hub for efficient and environmentally responsible pharma logistics in the region.

Zack Oakley, RFD executive director,  said: “The establishment at RFD of our GDP and GSP process for the handling of import pharma and life science products comes in direct response to a growing demand by the pharma sector in India, who along with their freight forwarding agents, want to improve the efficiency of the handling of these sensitive shipments by shipping them though a less congested airport system.”

Penta Freight’s deputy general manager for business development said: “As a major freight forwarder in India, focused on the pharma sector, we continuously examine alternative airport routes/possibilities for pharma cargo shipments, especially airport solutions that can help our clients lower their costs, risks and importantly their CO2 emissions.

“Because flights into RFD are direct in approach and the aircraft is at the ramp ready to unload within five minutes of landing, the CO2 savings run into the tens of tonnes per shipment.

“By being able to unload the pharma directly from the aircraft and into the reefer truck, we massively reduce risks and costs associated with the traditional airside air cargo airport handling process for pharma.

“Now that we have proven the GDP-GSP pharma handling process at RFD we anticipate growing this trade lane from India and feed more pharma into the US and especially RFD.”

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