Federal Express Corporation, the world’s largest express transportation company, announced that both its ramps of operations at Rafael Hernández Airport (BQN) in Aguadilla and Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) in San Juan, Puerto Rico, have received the prestigious CEIV Pharma Certification from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), solidifying its commitment to excellence in pharmaceutical logistics.
The CEIV Pharma Certification, established by IATA in 2014, recognizes quality standards and regulatory requirements for safe and compliant air handling of high-value, time-sensitive, and temperature-controlled pharmaceutical products. Through extensive training and analyses of the operations, this certification ensures that facilities, equipment, operations, and staff meet the rigorous standards and expectations set by pharmaceutical manufacturers.
“At FedEx, we are incredibly proud to receive the CEIV Pharma Certification for our operations in Puerto Rico,” said Basil Khalil, vice president for the Caribbean and Central America at FedEx. “The certification of our ramp operations demonstrates our ability to effectively manage the temperature environment which is critical to maintaining pharmaceutical product integrity. Having two distinct airport locations certified to handle pharma product across the island increases resilience, reliability, and flexibility which is critical to the pharmaceutical sector.”
Over the past few years, FedEx has been investing in its infrastructure and innovative solutions to meet the needs and complex logistics of the pharmaceutical industry in Puerto Rico and across the globe. In 2022, FedEx inaugurated a state-of-the-art temperature-controlled room at its Ramp of Operations at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU). Moreover, FedEx extended a long-term lease agreement at the Aguadilla airport (BQN) with dedicated space for active containers, acquired new temperature-controlled trailers, and implemented its FedEx SenseAware Technology, which provides enhanced monitoring and intervention options.
In addition to the two ramps in Puerto Rico, the hubs in Memphis, where FedEx is headquartered, and Indianapolis also received the CEIV Pharma Certification. Puerto Rico has long been a key manufacturing hub for pharma which underscores the strategic importance of why the Puerto Rico ramps were prioritized alongside the key hubs for the Corporation.