Swissport Basel inaugurates new cool chain terminal “Cool+Connect”

by Payload Asia

Swissport Basel is inaugurating its new “cool+connect” terminal on 27 June 2024. The new infrastructure seamlessly ensures the integrity of pharmaceutical and temperature-sensitive goods (2-8°C) throughout the loading process. By consolidating shipments from the same suppliers in a single truck instead of several as before, CO2 emissions and handling time are reduced by around 70% (from 4.5 to 1.5 hours), as transportation outside the airport is no longer necessary.

“‘cool+connect’ is the first of its kind and we are proud to offer this innovation to our customers at EuroAirport,” says Andreas Behnke, Station Manager Basel, and member of the Swissport Global Cargo committee. “The cool chain infrastructure for pharmaceutical centers with many refrigerated containers meets a global need in the logistics industry. Swissport offers a proven, standardized  terminal for airlines, logistics providers and airports to outsource business-critical operations.”

Swissport plans to introduce the “cool+connect” infrastructure worldwide. Additionally, the company is committed to expanding its network of IATA CEIV Pharma-certified cargo warehouses for pharmaceutical logistics. Swissport aims to achieve CEIV certification across its network, with Geneva, Switzerland, and Hamburg, Germany, already in the planning stages. In the United States, Swissport is actively pursuing certification for major pharmaceutical centers at Miami International Airport and Chicago O’Hare International Airport, reinforcing its dedication to providing world-class handling of pharmaceutical goods.

The modern cargo warehouse at EuroAirport Basel includes an IATA CEIV-certified Swissport Pharma Center, which offers optimum conditions for handling temperature-sensitive goods, mainly from the pharmaceutical industry. Swissport plays a key role in the temperature-sensitive air cargo supply chain and its cargo infrastructure is renowned for its expertise in handling pharmaceutical products. In 2023, Swissport Cargo in Basel handled 43,000 tons of freight for 1,875 flights and employed 105 staff.