DHL Group has announced a major expansion of its dedicated Airfreight Cold Chain Network to strengthen its Life Sciences & Healthcare (LSH) logistics services. The initiative aims to improve the global transportation of temperature-sensitive medicines, vaccines, pharmaceutical products, and cell and gene therapies.
The expanded network is a key part of DHL Group’s €2 billion strategic investment in DHL Health Logistics. It is designed to provide customers with end-to-end visibility of sensitive healthcare shipments while meeting the changing logistics needs of major pharmaceutical companies and healthcare providers worldwide.
The expansion also aims to improve the reliability, efficiency and transparency of cold chain operations, helping ensure that critical medical products reach their destinations under the required temperature conditions.
Focus on Reliability and Supply Chain Efficiency
Oscar de Bok, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding, Freight, said healthcare and life sciences companies increasingly expect cold chain services that are reliable, compliant and transparent throughout the transportation process.
He added that businesses are also looking to simplify supply chains and reduce operating costs as logistics requirements become more complex.
According to de Bok, the expanded network combines DHL Aviation’s international air connectivity, a network of stations compliant with Good Distribution Practice (GDP) standards, and investments in modern temperature-controlled facilities. These capabilities are intended to provide a stronger logistics infrastructure for companies transporting essential medical treatments.
Reducing Risks in Global Pharmaceutical Transport
DHL Group said the expanded network will reduce reliance on third-party carriers and commercial airlines, giving the company greater control over product integrity and temperature management throughout the shipping journey.
The move is expected to strengthen supply chain resilience amid geopolitical tensions, limited transportation capacity and increasingly complex regulatory requirements. Maintaining appropriate temperatures during transit is particularly important for pharmaceuticals, vaccines and advanced therapies that can be damaged by unsuitable storage or handling conditions.
Connecting Key Healthcare Markets
The expansion will add capacity for temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical and medical shipments, connecting important global markets through more than 30 aviation hubs and gateways that comply with GDP standards.
By combining dedicated airfreight capabilities with specialised facilities and greater shipment visibility, DHL Group aims to support the growing needs of the global healthcare industry.
The initiative reinforces the company’s focus on building a more resilient healthcare logistics network and helping pharmaceutical companies deliver critical treatments safely and efficiently to patients worldwide.
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