DHL is accelerating in the most profitable and demanding segment of air freight with the expansion of its Airfreight Cold Chain Network dedicated to pharma and biomedical flows. The objective is clear: to ensure fast, reliable, and strictly temperature-controlled transport on priority corridors.
The decision is based on a strong economic rationale. Premium pharma pays for quality, compliance, and traceability, which protects margins in a volatile air cargo market. By strengthening its own capabilities, DHL reduces its dependence on external partners while increasing resilience against geopolitical tensions and regulatory constraints.
The network highlights an initial Brussels – Cincinnati corridor, designed to connect a major European pharma hub to the American Midwest. This corridor-first strategy aims to concentrate performance where high-value volumes are the highest before a gradual expansion.
The competitive pressure on air freight forwarders and companies could intensify, as more controlled capacity means less spot availability in certain segments. DHL no longer sells just transportation, but a global clinical continuity.
