A first pharma trade lane is to be explored between Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci (FCO) and São Paulo-Guarulhos (GRU) airports.

The two airports share a common vision and have therefore signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to engage in strategic collaboration to boost traffic, business and cargo flows through their individual hubs, intending to develop regional cargo ecosystems.

GRU is the main cargo hub in South America, while FCO serves as an important international cargo transport hub in Italy to major global markets, facilitated by the airport’s extensive direct connectivity.

The creation and development of flows of pharmaceutical goods is an important opportunity for establishing a new end-to-end logistics chain that ensures compliance with the highest quality and safety standards throughout the entire supply chain process, from the supplier to the end customer, in order to protect the integrity of the products.

A ‘certified pharmaceutical trade lane’

The MoU was signed at the end of December 2023 with the aim of establishing a ‘certified pharmaceutical trade lane’ (Pharma Trade Lane), serving the sector and the respective industries located in each airport’s catchment areas.

The respective airport operators mutually agreed that they will extend participation in the Pharma Trade Lane, along with the involvement of the most relevant businesses operating within the pharmaceutical logistics chain (such as air carriers, handlers, shipping agents, pharmaceutical manufacturers, etc.).

Access to the community and related promotional and communication efforts will target companies and players certified under IATA CEIV Pharma, as well as all companies qualified according to the EU GDP criteria (European Union guidelines on pharmaceutical product logistics management).

Promoting the growth of new and developing cargo flows

Both parties will jointly promote the growth of new and developing cargo flows between the two regions, and will engage in marketing and promotion activities, exploring new markets and expanding these efforts, as well as engaging all the above-mentioned players and stakeholders involved in the logistics chain in a systemic cooperation effort.

The partnership will also include activities such as scouting and exchanging information on technical topics related to logistics facilities, security services, cargo handling mechanisms and procedures, digitisation and sustainability issues.

The initiation of these discussions follows a strategic programme initiated by Aeroporti di Roma (ADR) – the fixed-base operator of FCO – to develop the main relevant cargo flows for the catchment area in Rome and the country as a whole.

High standards

The pharmaceutical sector represents excellence within Lazio’s production and industrial fabric. The entire airport community in Fiumicino received the highest IATA CEIV Pharma certification in June 2019, confirming the high standards of quality and safety in the logistics management of pharmaceutical products, which are upheld by the main stakeholders who work at the airport.

The agreement with GRU airport is part of the ongoing cooperation between ADR and major airport operators worldwide, relaunching an active collaboration with leading operators dedicated to the development of the pharmaceutical sector, such as BCUBE Air Cargo.

Furthermore, ADR‘s membership within PharmacomItalia, which started in 2023, will facilitate the development of an extensive network of collaborative activities directly benefiting the main national players in pharmaceutical logistics, with the hope for potential expansion to additional markets and partners in the future.

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