Liege Airport Moves More Than 10,000 Tonnes of Pharma Cargo to Chicago

CargoLand by LGG at Liège Airport has handled more than 10,000 tonnes of pharmaceutical cargo bound for Chicago O’Hare International Airport since launching a regular scheduled service in early 2026.

The milestone highlights growing demand for reliable, temperature-controlled air freight, particularly for sensitive pharmaceutical products such as insulin, vaccines and medicines that require specialist handling and storage.

Frederic BRUN, Vice-President of Sales and Marketing at Liège Airport, said the service had quickly attracted demand due to its consistent schedule and operational reliability.

“Year to date, we have moved over 10,000 tonnes of pharma to ORD. The demand grew rapidly because of the stable service and ensuring stable operations we offer,” he said.

The pharmaceutical cargo is primarily transferred to Liège from other airports rather than representing newly generated volumes. The increase nevertheless reflects growing confidence among freight forwarders in Liège’s pharmaceutical handling capabilities.

The Liège–Chicago–Dubai rotation operates three times a week, with the airport reporting full loads on both outbound and return flights.

Minimising cold-chain exposure

CargoLand by LGG has developed service-level agreements with pharmaceutical customers aimed at reducing the time temperature-sensitive products spend outside controlled environments.

According to Brun, standard handling processes can limit exposure to around 20 minutes between truck and refrigerated storage, followed by a further 20 minutes between refrigeration and aircraft loading.

“Our seamless transfers and closeness from truck to ramp make it super easy and effective,” he said.

The operation handles pharmaceutical products with different temperature and handling requirements, making appropriate storage, careful transfers and consistent cold-chain management essential.

Brun said Liège had built its pharmaceutical processes around its existing infrastructure and operational expertise, with the objective of reducing risk and simplifying cargo movements.

“Reducing exposure time reduces risk, while keeping handling straightforward and limiting the number of parties involved makes the process easier to manage,” he said.

CEVA uses Liège for pharma consolidation

CEVA is among the logistics companies using Liège to support pharmaceutical supply chains. Shipments collected from pharmaceutical facilities in France and Germany are consolidated and prepared for air transport at CargoLand by LGG.

Liège’s 24-hour operating model provides additional flexibility for freight forwarders and pharmaceutical manufacturers, particularly when urgent shipments or disruptions require changes to transport plans.

The airport said pharmaceutical volumes have increased by more than 120% as part of a wider diversification strategy pursued over the past four years.