The rise of temperature-sensitive and highly regulated therapies has made air cargo a strategic pillar of pharmaceutical supply chains, reported London's Air Cargo Week.

Industry leaders say logistics reliability now directly affects product integrity and patient safety. Air freight is increasingly viewed not just as transport but as a clinical variable underpinning healthcare delivery.

Biologics, vaccines and cell- and gene-based therapies require controlled environments, continuous monitoring and traceable chain-of-custody processes. Ocean and ground transport cannot match the immediacy or risk tolerance needed for high-stakes consignments.

Airports are being urged to evolve into pharma-ready ecosystems with integrated temperature control, rapid cross-docking and automated exception management. Suresh Nair of Navi Mumbai International Airport said airports will be judged on their ability to maintain validated conditions from arrival to dispatch.

Freight forwarders stress the importance of certified pharma corridors. Aseem Kapoor noted that predictability in handling and documentation is crucial, with the cost of non-compliance far outweighing investment in certified lanes.

Airlines face rising expectations for quality assurance. Delta Cargo's Steffani Souza said pharma is now a global discipline requiring continuous certification and digital chain-of-custody visibility to withstand regulatory scrutiny.

Manufacturers also see logistics as a determinant of therapeutic outcomes. Arloph John Vieira of Bajaj Healthcare warned that delays can compromise product stability, leading to recalls and regulatory setbacks.

Amritendu Mukherjee of Dr Reddy's Laboratories highlighted the need for predictive risk tools and digital transparency, arguing that time lost in pharma logistics equates to clinical risk.

Senior industry leader Keku Bomi Gazder said the future rests on certified infrastructure, digital governance and standardisation. Air cargo, he added, has become a guarantor of product viability and patient safety, shaping competitiveness in global pharmaceutical markets.