Just what the doctor ordered: Ten thousand tonnes of scheduled pharma to the Windy City (ORD)
Scheduled pharmaceutical cargo traffic between CargoLand by LGG and Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) has reached over 10,000 tonnes since the launch of a fixed, regular schedule in early 2026. Frederic Brun, Vice President Sales & Marketing at LGG: “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.”
The corridor’s pharmaceutical traffic consists of shipments transferred to CargoLand by LGG from other airports, rather than new business. These transfers reflect freight forwarders’ confidence in the reliability of the service. All flights on the out and return services are full on the three weekly LGG–Chicago–Dubai rotations.
He added: “The Service Level Agreements (SLA) put in place for pharma customers in LGG are strong. We have an exposure times of just 20 minutes from truck to fridge and 20 minutes from fridge to loading as standard. Our seamless transfers and closeness from truck to ramp make it super easy and effective.” Products driving growth include insulin, vaccines and other medicines, each with specific handling and temperature requirements. CargoLand by LGG’s operation must accommodate these differences through appropriate storage, careful handling and consistent cold chain management.
A customer example
CEVA provides a strong example. Liege’s location has helped streamline collections from a major pharmaceutical group’s sites in France and Germany, with cargo consolidated and prepared for flight at CargoLand by LGG. The airport’s 24/7 operations help reduce potential bottlenecks and provide greater flexibility for freight forwarders and pharmaceutical shippers.
According to Brun: “We have refined our pharmaceutical handling operations around our existing capabilities and expertise. Reducing exposure time reduces risk, while keeping handling straightforward and limiting the number of parties involved makes the process easier to manage. Expertise developed over several years is now becoming standard practice at LGG.”
CargoLand by LGG’s 24/7 operations translate into a measurable advantage for pharma customers, particularly during disruption or urgent shipments, easily. 24/7 gives max flexibilities to pharma shippers and forwarders to handle goods in best conditions. That is one reason that the airport has seen many relief flight made out of LGG as well as launches of new product in countries like in Brazil.
Brun continued: “We saw an enormous growth on pharma vertical that follows the strategy of diversification. It is not only a word for us, it is a motto that we have applied for four years now. It is now paying off for us with an increase of more than 120 percent of pharma goods via LGG.
“CargoLand by LGG’s pharmaceutical growth plans reflect strong global demand. The airport aims to develop its freighter network around customer needs, connecting production centres with markets requiring reliable access to essential medicines. “Existing African connections, established through flower imports, offer opportunities for pharmaceutical exports on return flights. Greater use of this capacity could support growth while improving access to medicines across Africa.
“Future network development will consider new destinations and origins, including India. CargoLand by LGG also sees opportunities to serve more challenging markets, aligning available freighter capacity with pharmaceutical demand around the world. “All cargo handlers at LGG hold CEIV Pharma certification, providing a foundation for further development. Other businesses around the airport increasingly recognise opportunities to contribute their expertise to pharmaceutical logistics.”
