With one billion Covid-19 vaccines shipped through Brussels Airport, the Belgian capital has become a crucial pharmaceutical hub for Europe.
Since the first months of the pandemic, Brussels Airport has played an important role in the fight against Covid-19 thanks to its important pharmaceutical hub. The first shipments of Covid-19 vaccines from Brussels Airport started in November 2020. Since then, the Belgian airport has handled more than one billion vaccines—750 million exports, 250 million imports and millions more in transfer—directed to European countries and beyond. Every day, vaccines that pass through Brussels Airport reach more than 60 countries worldwide, with Japan and the United States being the two main destinations.
We are proud to pass the milestone of one billion vaccines transported via Brussels Airport. We have been contributing to the fight against Covid and supporting vaccination programmes around the world since the first vaccine flight operated in November 2020.
Arnaud Feist, CEO of Brussels Airport
This result was achieved thanks to avant-garde infrastructures and facilities, a strong expertise in the pharmaceutical field, as well as the collaboration of key partner’s who ensure a secure and optimized chain for these shipments. There are several airlines actively involved in the shipments of Covid-19 vaccines, including United Airlines, DHL Express, All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, Hainan Airlines, TUI fly, Singapore Airlines, TAP, Iberia, Lufthansa Cargo, Emirates, Virgin Atlantic and Qatar Airways. Logistics partners ensure all shipments run smoothly. Examples of such partners include Expeditors, DHL Global Forwarding and Kuehne+Nagel. Moreover, Brussels Airport collaborates with Air Cargo Belgium, and boasts cargo partners in the BRUCure Taskforce, many of whom are certified in the pharmaceutical sector under the IATA CEIV programme.
Our infrastructure and equipment for handling vaccines and other pharmaceuticals meet the highest standards of the pharmaceutical sector. Quality and safety are our priorities and every day we work together with our partners to ensure the numerous shipments of vaccines and pills to more than 60 countries.
Arnaud Feist, CEO of Brussels Airport
Brussels Airport has specialized in the transport of pharmaceutical products for more than ten years. With more than 35,000 m² of temperature-controlled warehouses in the cargo area, the Belgian airport can handle pharmaceutical products that are highly sensitive to temperature variations. Moreover, Brussels Airport is also the driving force behind the development of Airside Pharma Transporters—mobile refrigerators that ensure the correct and safe transport of pharmaceutical products between the warehouses and the airplane.
Today, around 10% of the total goods that pass through Brussels Airport consists of pharmaceutical products, which are handled by about 500 employees. Besides Covid-19 vaccines, the Belgian airport has also recently started shipping Covid-19 pills. Although the pills are more sensitive to temperature variations than the vaccines, the advanced pharmaceutical infrastructure of Brussels Airport ensures these new shipments are carried out safely.
