- The 20-ton shipment, carried out on a direct flight, included vital medications such as Salbutamol for asthma treatment and HIV treatments, destined for the Brazilian Ministry of Health, for distribution within the country.
Madrid, March 20, 2025 – In line with its role as the largest cargo operator from Europe to South America, LATAM group’s cargo affiliates continue to strengthen its position as a strategic ally in the transport of pharmaceutical products. The company carried out a special charter that moved 20 tons of essential medicines from Madrid to Rio de Janeiro.
The shipment, conducted on a direct flight, included vital medications such as Salbutamol for asthma treatment and HIV treatments, destined for the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Upon arrival at Galeão – Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG), the pharmaceutical products were distributed locally for use throughout the country.
“This shipment demonstrates our ability to adapt to our customers’ needs and offer customized and efficient transport solutions,” stated Matías Cortina, Commercial Director for cargo in Europe at LATAM Airlines Group. “We will continue working to contribute to the supply of essential pharmaceutical products for the Brazilian population.”
The shipment represents a significant increase in LATAM’s pharmaceutical transport capacity from Spain to Brazil. In 2024, the company transported an average of 18 tons of these products monthly, meaning this operation exceeded the usual volume by more than 160%.
LATAM group positions itself as a leader in the transport of pharmaceutical products thanks to its specialized Pharma product, its state-of-the-art handling facilities, and its flexibility to offer customized flights to specific destinations.
Cold Chain
LATAM has made significant investments in quality control and continuous improvement by closely monitoring its cold chain processes through proprietary tracking devices. By leveraging this data, the airline has managed to identify potential weaknesses in the cold chain and quickly implement corrective actions and best practices to ensure the integrity and safety of pharmaceutical shipments. This has enabled the LATAM group to expand its PHARMA network by 50% in recent years, with an increase of nearly 40% in kilos of pharmaceutical products transported from Europe, compared to 2023.
In addition, LATAM Cargo Group recently received the CEIV Pharma recertification from the Center of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), having been the first airline in the Americas to obtain this certification in 2017, which reinforces the company’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards in pharmaceutical transport, ensuring continuous improvement and a robust operational framework for cargo handling and management.