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Swissport has achieved a significant operational milestone at EuroAirport Basel–Mulhouse–Freiburg by handling 1,000 temperature-controlled containers (equivalent to RKN units) through its „cool+connect“ facility. This progress reflects the strong growth in pharmaceutical volumes and underscores Basel’s role as an important European gateway for air freight in the life sciences sector.
Since the launch of the „cool+connect“ infrastructure in February 2025, Swissport has processed over 1,000 temperature-controlled containers at EuroAirport Basel. Monthly volumes have increased to 200 to 250 RKN equivalents. This sustained growth highlights the rising demand for reliable, airport-based solutions for the cold chain and positions Swissport at the center of global pharmaceutical supply chains connecting Europe with key markets in Asia and beyond. The milestone emphasizes Basel’s growing significance as a European export hub for life sciences and confirms Swissport’s expanded role as a strategic gateway for temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical shipments, supported by a network of 24 certified pharmaceutical centers and 65 pharma-capable warehouses worldwide.
Optimization of Cold Chain Logistics
With the specialized „cool+connect“ infrastructure and integrated digital monitoring systems, Swissport has significantly optimized the handling of shipments at temperatures of +2 to +8 °C. The consignments are consolidated directly at the airport to be loaded into Active Cooltainers, while maintaining the cold chain 100%. This eliminates transport routes outside the airport, reduces processing times by approximately 70%, and significantly lowers CO₂ emissions while maximizing the integrity of the shipments.
„The achievement of this milestone demonstrates the structural growth we are observing in the temperature-controlled freight sector,“ says Andreas Behnke, Regional Head of Cargo for Switzerland, Italy, and France. „The demand from global pharmaceutical manufacturers and health logistics providers continues to rise, particularly for airport-based solutions that reduce complexity and transit times. Our modern facility combines efficiency, scalability, and sustainability in a way that meets the evolving requirements of modern pharmaceutical supply chains.“
Enhanced Measures to Strengthen the Cold Chain
Building on the success of „cool+connect,“ Swissport is enhancing the resilience of the cold chain at Cargo Basel through newly tested thermal covers for transport trolleys. These are designed for extreme heat and cold conditions and maintain stable temperatures during transport on the airport premises for up to three hours. Custom-designed transport trolleys have been equipped with this system to ensure seamless integration into daily operations without additional handling complexity.
This investment further helps to mitigate weather-related risks and strengthen continuous temperature control for critical health deliveries, reflecting Swissport’s ongoing commitment to innovations in cold chain logistics.