DHL Global Forwarding expanded its cold chain network in October 2026 by launching six dedicated life sciences and healthcare air corridors connecting Europe and North America with Asia.
The newly established routes connect Liège and Brussels in Europe, along with Cincinnati in the United States, directly to Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo Narita, and Seoul Incheon.
Operated primarily on DHL Express-branded Boeing 777 freighters, the flights offer three different temperature-controlled compartments to reduce handovers and safeguard temperature-sensitive healthcare shipments.
Three corridors run directly from Europe, and three run from the United States. European departures connect Liège to Shanghai, Brussels to Shanghai and Brussels to Singapore. Transatlantic flights leave DHL’s Cincinnati hub for Singapore, Tokyo Narita and Seoul Incheon.
Each aircraft combines active temperature control with passive packing protections, including thermal blanket systems and phase-change materials. These systems maintain strict limits: 2 to 8 degrees Celsius for refrigerated biologicals, and 15 to 25 degrees Celsius for controlled room-temperature medicines.
These new corridors further expand our Cold Chain Network into strategically important healthcare markets across Asia. They respond to customer demand for reliable connectivity between major healthcare markets while giving us greater control over critical quality parameters throughout the transportation process. This enables our customers to move critical healthcare products with greater confidence and reliability.
Transfer points create the biggest operational bottleneck in long-haul pharma airfreight. Commercial passenger bellyhold space exposes sensitive cargo to tarmac temperature spikes during layovers or unexpected delays.
Operating dedicated Boeing 777 freighters across proprietary hubs gives drug makers predictable schedules and uniform standard operating procedures from loading to customs clearance.
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