Air, Feature, Freight News, Logistics

DHL Expands Cold Chain Air Network for Pharma

[ February 19, 2026   //   Gary Burrows ]

DHL Group said it is expanding its dedicated airfreight cold chain network as part of a broader push into life sciences and healthcare logistics.

The company said the expanded network will provide additional controlled air capacity for temperature-sensitive medicines, vaccines and advanced therapies, while reducing reliance on commercial airlines and third-party carriers.

The move is part of DHL’s previously announced 2-billion-euro investment in its health logistics business. The company said the expanded network will link more than 30 GDP-compliant aviation hubs and gateways, providing end-to-end visibility and temperature control for pharmaceutical shipments.

Initial routes will connect major hubs including Brussels Airport and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. The Brussels-Cincinnati corridor links U.S. Midwest pharmaceutical production centers with one of Europe’s largest life sciences clusters. DHL said the route is supported by dedicated temperature-controlled facilities at Brussels.

To support the expansion, DHL has deployed a dedicated Boeing 777 freighter on the Brussels-Cincinnati route. The aircraft, operating under the company’s health logistics division branding, is intended to provide consistent capacity and tighter control over handling conditions for high-value biologics and cell and gene therapies.

DHL said strengthening its dedicated network improves resilience amid geopolitical disruption, capacity constraints and increasing regulatory requirements. The company added that greater control over transport conditions could reduce the need for specialized packaging and refrigerated air containers.

DHL Group, headquartered in Bonn, reported revenue of about 84.2 billion euros in 2024 and employs roughly 602,000 people worldwide.

Tags: DHL Group