DHL GROUP says it has announced “major steps” to strengthen its life sciences & healthcare (LSH) logistics capabilities with an expanded dedicated airfreight cold chain network.
The move is designed to reshape how temperature-sensitive medicines, vaccines, pharmaceutical products and cell and gene therapies move across the world.
“Life sciences and healthcare companies expect cold chain solutions that are reliable, compliant, and transparent from end to end—and those expectations are rising fast,” said Oscar de Bok, chief executive of DHL Global Forwarding, Freight.
“At the same time, they’re looking for ways to simplify supply chains and reduce costs. Our expanded network brings together DHL Aviation’s global air connectivity, our GDP-compliant station network, and our major investments in modern, temperature-controlled facilities.”
He said the result was a more resilient, more efficient logistics backbone for customers.
Mr de Bok said by reducing reliance on third-party carriers and commercial airlines, DHL was improving product integrity and temperature control while increasing supply chain resilience.
He said the expansion added capacity for temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical and medical shipments and connected key markets via more than 30 GDP-compliant aviation hubs and gateways.
The network is to first connect major DHL hubs, including Brussels (BRU) and Cincinnati (CVG), with additional routes in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America to follow.
The BRU-CVG corridor connects the US Midwest, home to leading pharma companies, directly to one of Europe’s most advanced life sciences ecosystems.
Countries prioritised for further expansion of the Airfreight Cold Chain Network include India, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, the United States, Germany, and Ireland. These routes are designed to meet strict regulatory requirements and maintain product quality throughout the supply chain.
DHL has introduced a dedicated Boeing 777 freighter operating between Brussels and Cincinnati. The aircraft, which features the new “DHL Health Logistics” livery, serves as a visible marker of the company’s strategic focus on healthcare logistics.
More importantly, its dedicated routing provides consistent, controllable capacity on one of the most critical pharma lanes, reinforcing the reliability and temperature management standards required for sensitive shipments.
While the branding highlights the sector’s importance, the aircraft’s operational role strengthens the backbone of DHL’s growing health logistics network.