Montevideo, April 2nd 2019
MVD Free Airport, Carrasco International Airport’s business unit that operates a multimodal distribution center in Uruguay’s largest airport, received an additional Lufthansa Cargo Boeing 777 freighter, a new and modern aircraft that helps improving the current cargo capacity to tackle the growing demand of connectivity to Uruguay by the main global pharmaceutical shippers.
The B777 Freighter will be complementing the already existing 777 Freighter currently transporting cargo to MVD Free Airport, in one of the two weekly frequencies that Lufthansa Cargo operates. The freighter is substituting one of its current aircrafts, the MD11F (McDonnell Douglas) in a strategic move to provide the route with augmented capacity to tackle the connectivity needs of Montevideo airport. This upgrade takes place at a very special moment for the airport, currently incrementing its participation in the transit of pharmaceutical cargo proceeding from the largest markets in Europe, Asia and North America, with destination in some of the larger countries in the region.
“It is pivotal to continue strengthening Uruguay’s routes with Europe, and with Germany in particular, this step is a confirmation of the global carrier’s recognition of Uruguay’s recent growth as a gateway for South American distribution”, said MVD Free Airport’s Managing Director, Bruno Guella.
“The new B777F is the biggest cargo aircraft currently moving cargo from Europe to Montevideo, we expect that the market will keep on supporting this strategic route” ”, complemented Eduardo González, Lufthansa’s Cargo Manager in Uruguay.
“The capacity will be augmented by 25% in comparison to the MD11F, allowing for the transportation of 27 containers in the main deck (AMJ) and 32 containers in the lower deck (LD3)”, Gonzalez commented.
MVD Free Airport has been undergoing significant growth in the provision of distribution services for global pharmaceutical companies in the region and has in the past two years been selected by several leading global pharma companies reaching the main South American markets.
MVD Free Airport is part of Corporación America, the parent Company that also manages the concessions of the Carrasco International Airport and Punta Del Este Airport in Uruguay, alongside over 50 airports and 10 cargo terminals in 10 countries across 3 continents.
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Brussels, March 19th 2019
In order to continue sharing know-how, best practices and working together in the development of new pharma certified lanes, Brussels Airport and MVD Free Airport have signed a memorandum of understanding that formalizes their relationship of friendship and cooperation.
Given that MVD Free Airport and Brussels Airport Company are both operators of international airports with similar missions to be the best in the accommodation of passengers and cargo and operate as air cargo hubs of regional relevance, they see eye-to-eye with regards to the challenges that global pharma distribution is facing, and have worked on several initiatives including the launching of a GDP compliant route between Brussels and Montevideo to facilitate regional distribution to Brazil, Argentina and the rest of South America via Uruguay.
“We’ve felt identified with what Brussels Airport Company has been doing for quite some time” mentioned Bruno Guella, Managing Director at MVD Free Airport. “The way they’ve positioned themselves as a pharma gateway with state-of-the-art infrastructure, pharma-oriented processes and internal quality standards up to par with the most demanding has definitely helped shape our mission and vision. We are happy to be in continuous collaboration with Brussels Airport Company and very excited for what is to come.”
“It is great to see companies such as MVD Free Airport who operate in very challenging regional contexts strive for greatness and help pave the way for a safer, reliable and standardized pharma distribution. When we first started exchanging ideas and information we were very pleasantly surprised to learn we were speaking the same language and that a lot could be accomplished together and also being part of Pharma.Aero as well. Today, we are very satisfied with the road we’ve traveled and looking forward to all that is yet to come” mentioned Nathan De Valck, Cargo Development Manager at Brussels Airport Company.
MVD Free Airport is part of Corporación America, the parent Company that also manages the concessions of the Carrasco International Airport and Punta Del Este Airport in Uruguay, alongside over 50 airports and 10 cargo terminals in 10 countries across 3 continents.
MVD Free Airport is a business unit of Corporación America, the largest airport operator in the world with a network of over 50 airports across 3 continents.
For more information, please contact us at info@dromoshosting.com/lacc
Hyderabad, February 6th, 2019
MVD Free Airport was present as a distinguished speaker at the Pharmerging Expo in Hyderabad, India paving the way for a pharma-certified route between Hyderabad and S.America. A two-day exhibition that brings together the players vital to pharmaceutical supply chain industry in India, Pharmerging Expo featured leadership from Airports, Airlines. Pharmaceutical Companies, Cold chain experts, GHA, amongst others.
Amongst the many topics discussed was the creation of a GDP compliant pharma corridor between Hyderabad and South America via MVD Free Airport. Given the preponderance of Hyderabad as the main pharma exporter in India, the challenges faced to reach the larger South American markets safely, traceably and efficiently were manifest and discussed by all the players involved.
Currently MVD Free Airport is working on a roadmap that would help quantify the benefits of the solution from a cost, lead time and safety perspective by working on simulations based on actual data provided by several shippers and industry players.
“We are very excited about the widespread acceptance of the nature of our solution by India’s pharmaceutical community as a whole”, mentioned Hans Guiscardo, Senior Manager at MVD Free Airport. “South America is a very heterogeneous region, with markets varying in size, connectivity, infrastructure, regulatory, culture, etc. Being able to customize last mile’s via a local market from a bonded, GDP compliant premise helps tackle several of these issues. We look forward to all that is to come alongside the Hyderabad Pharma Community”, he concluded.
MVD Free Airport is part of Corporación America, the parent Company that also manages the concessions of the Carrasco International Airport and Punta Del Este Airport in Uruguay, alongside over 50 airports and 10 cargo terminals in 10 countries across 3 continents.
MVD Free Airport is a business unit of Corporación America, the largest airport operator in the world with a network of over 50 airports across 3 continents.
For more information, please contact us at info@dromoshosting.com/lacc
Montevideo, November 17th 2018
Roche, the Swiss-based global leader in the pharmaceutical industry has implemented a model for regional distribution to different markets in South America at MVD Free Airport. In order to optimize long hauls, manage stock more efficiently and customize orders, Roche currently distributes to Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay via MVD Free Airport, the only multimodal airport free zone in Latin America.
“Basing our operations at MVD Free Airport allows us to perform all types of conditioning activities from within Airport premises, as well as consolidate our long hauls. We are able to optimize inventory and the entire supply chain to regional markets, with full ownership of all processes and in compliance with our global quality assurance standards” said Marcos Rico, Regional Supply Chain Manager.
“The fact that a global player such as Roche has deposited their confidence in us validates we are taking steps in the right direction”, mentioned Bruno Guella, Managing Director at MVD Free Airport. “Not only do we feel more confident on the steps taken thus far with regards to providing optimal conditions for global pharma players to distribute to the region in a safer, more efficient way, but we’ve been able to gain a lot more perspective as to the key drivers behind pharma distribution. We truly consider them a valued, strategic partner”.
MVD Free Airport recently received its IATA CEIV Pharma certification, becoming only the second Airport in Latin America to do so, confirming its commitment to quality distribution and best practices in store and handling of pharmaceutical products.
MVD Free Airport is a business unit of Corporación America, the largest airport operator in the world with a network of over 50 airports and cargo terminals across 3 continents. It is a multimodal distribution center specialized in temperature-controlled supply chain, operating as the first and only free airport in South America.
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Montevideo, November 14th 2018
While it had been officially announced last week that Martin Eurnekian, CEO at Corporation America Airports would be assuming the presidency of Airports Council International in 2020, this will finally take place this week, given that Bongani Maseko will be stepping down officially as of today.
Eurnekian is then becoming the first latin American to act as president of an association that gathers over 600 operators of more than 1500 airports in 175 countries around the globe. Eurnekian’s presidency will extend until December 2021.
This also marks a significant milestone for Corporation America Airports, confirming and strengthening its positioning as one of the leading Airport operators around the globe.
MVD Free Airport is a business unit of Corporación America, the largest airport operator in the world with a network of over 50 airports and cargo terminals across 3 continents. It is a multimodal distribution center specialized in temperature-controlled supply chain, operating as the first and only free airport in South America.
For more information: www.dromoshosting.com/lacc
Montevideo, November 11th 2018
2018 has seen MVD Free Airport incorporate several new distribution set-ups in the region to better serve the pharmaceutical market in South America. Throughout the year, several pilots have been implemented for reducing clearance times to Brazil and reaching other large markets via truck, and simultaneously managed access companies have commenced their distribution to South America via MVD Free Airport, optimizing long hauls while performing pick-pack-shipping operations in GDP compliant premises.
“It has been a great year, managed access distribution is definitely a very challenging model, ensuring high-value, highly critical medication is sent as quickly as possible to the right person, while ensuring all aspects related to cold-chain storage, handling and packaging are up to the most demanding quality standards. We understand the positive impact we are having on many lives, and are proud to be a part of something like that” mentioned Carla Sarti, Head of Client Advisory at MVD Free Airport.
Throughout the second quarter of the year, MVD Free Airport has begun with the storage and distribution of cargo in bulk as well as international trucking to other countries in the region such as Argentina. This has also presented the need for a detailed and tailored SOPs given the nature of the goods, and the specific handling and storage requirements.
Last but not least, MVD Free Airport has hit a significant milestone in its Brazil distribution having sent its truck number 600 via the Santana do Livramento border with zero temperature deviations, significantly reducing clearance times and providing a traceable and reliable entry point to Brazil. It recently began pilots with 3 top tier global shippers for a more agile Brazil entry as well as distribution to the rest of the southern cone.
“We are receiving very manifest interest from many large global players attempting to tackle similar issues. We look forward to making all these exciting projects a reality”, added Sarti.
MVD Free Airport is a business unit of Corporación America, the largest airport operator in the world with a network of over 50 airports and cargo terminals across 3 continents. It is a multimodal distribution center specialized in temperature-controlled supply chain, operating as the first and only free airport in South America.
For more information: www.dromoshosting.com/lacc
Montevideo, November 3rd 2018
Carrasco International Airport continues to raise the bar in terms of security and logistic infrastructure. With a multimillion dollar investment, it is enhancing the security standards as well as significantly reducing transit times for both passengers and cargo. In its regional distribution center, it is designing a fully automated reception & dispatching area that includes x-raying and photographing 100% of inbound and outbound cargo. The underlying mission is to find an optimal balance between process seamlessness and security.
“Being selected by global players for regional distribution is a responsibility we are taking very seriously,” said Bruno Guella, Managing Director at MVD Free Airport. “Ensuring the safeguard of the cargo in accordance with GDP compliance is something that is embedded in our DNA; however, being able to provide additional traceability to the entire distribution chain is taking our commitment a step further. Clients will be able to see, with photographic and x-ray evidence, the conditions in which their cargo was received and dispatched, providing transparency and contributing to the accountability of all the players in the distribution chain”, he added.
The investment for the cargo terminal of the airport includes a new reception area fully sheltered from climatic conditions, automated x-ray capabilities, automated photographic documentation from three angles and a seamless integration to the WMS, providing real time accessibility to clients around the globe. The estimated implementation date is Q2 2019.
In the passenger terminal the investments include fully automated biometric identification, electronic passport scanning, automated migration terminals, amongst other components that place the Montevideo Airport at the forefront in terms of process automation and state-of-the-art security.
MVD Free Airport is a business unit of Corporación America, the largest airport operator in the world with a network of over 50 airports and cargo terminals across 3 continents. It is a multimodal distribution center specialized in temperature-controlled supply chain, operating as the first and only free airport in South America.
For more information: www.dromoshosting.com/lacc
Montevideo, September 25th 2018
On September 25th MVD Free Airport proudly received a delegation comprised of David Mundell, Scotland’s Secretary of State, Ian Duddy, UK embassador in Uruguay, Alejandra Silveira (International Hub Manager for AstraZeneca), Arturo Vargas (UY Finance Manager for AstraZeneca), Adriana Cuñetti (QA Manager for AstraZeneca), Ruben Cano (Operations for AstraZeneca) with the support of Uruguay XXI represented by Alejandro Ferrari, in order to review AstraZeneca’s current regional distribution model set up at MVD Free Airport.
Throughout the visit, the strengthening of commercial ties between UK-based companies and Uruguay was discussed prior to a detailed tour of the facilities.
MVD Free Airport looks forward to all that is to come moving towards the future and working closely with the local UK representatives to materialize the opportunities that lie ahead.
MVD Free Airport is a business unit of Corporación America, the largest airport operator in the world with a network of over 50 airports and cargo terminals across 3 continents. It is a multimodal distribution center specialized in temperature-controlled supply chain, operating as the first and only free airport in South America.
For more information: www.dromoshosting.com/lacc
Montevideo’s play for pharmaceuticals is playing off. The Uruguayan airport set up a pharma hub last year to establish itself as a distribution point for pharmaceutical traffic in and out of the southern cone of South America, and it is attracting international freighters. In early September LATAM Cargo inaugurated a weekly all-cargo service to Brussels with Boeing 767-300F equipment. The Belgian airport pioneered the CEIV accreditation concept, and LATAM Cargo has also embraced the scheme.
For Montevideo Free Airport this marked the second milestone in the development of long-haul connections for pharma flows. A year earlier Lufthansa Cargo upgraded one of its two weekly freighter stops at the airport from an MD-11F to a 777-200F.
The new Montevideo-Brussels route is the latest step in LATAM Cargo’s expansion of its long-haul maindeck network. Earlier this year the region’s largest cargo carrier added Brussels and Madrid to its European freighter destinations when it stepped up its trans-Atlantic frequency from previously three to five weekly all-cargo flights.
That change was due to the departure of the airline’s last 777 freighter, which had been fielded on the trans-Atlantic sector. It has been replaced with 767-300 freighters, which now make up the carrier’s all-cargo fleet.
LATAM is also stepping up its international passenger routes. Having inaugurated flights to Boston and Lisbon, it is preparing for the launch of service to Tel Aviv by the end of the year, to be followed by Munich in 2019.
Carriers from other regions have their sights on LATAM’s home turf. Iberia intends to start a route from Madrid to Managua in December, flying three times a week to the Nicaraguan capital.
The Spanish airline is set to boost its footprint in the region in October with three additional frequencies a week each from Madrid to Buenos Aires and Mexico City. Both destinations will be served 17 times a week.
The carrier is also adding one more weekly flight each on its routes to Santiago, Rio de Janeiro and San Juan, while its service to Guatemala City gets ramped up from currently four to seven weekly frequencies.
Air Canada increased its capacity in South America earlier in the year when it split its service to Santiago and Buenos Aires into two separate flights. For the cargo division this has been an important gain in lift, as it increasingly targets flows between South America and markets in Europe and Asia.
This reflects the growing strength of the Latin American air cargo market. In June the region showed the highest growth in cargo traffic worldwide, according to figures from the International Air Transport Association, with freight ton-kilometres up 5.9%. Moreover, it was one of only two regions where traffic growth outpaced increases in capacity (which declined 5.7% in Latin America).
Automotive shipments were a massive catalyst for growth in Brazil, the region’s main market. Rio de Janeiro’s Jobim Galeao airport has been going strong with automotive traffic, which was up 160% in the first four months of this year, as vehicle production in Brazil surged 20.7% during the period.
Despite the departure of its last 777 freighter, LATAM Cargo posted a 16.8% boost in revenues for the second quarter of this year, continuing its recovery in 2017, which saw revenues go up 6.7%.
The results could have been better were it not for technical issues. The airline’s international expansion has been hampered on the passenger side by the problems with engines on its new 787-9 aircraft. Its maindeck capacity took a hit from the departure of its last 777 freighter, but one converted 767-300F was added to the mix in May, and another is due in November.
When the carrier placed its order for four 777-200Fs, there were thoughts about possibly mounting trans-Pacific freighter flights. This would have been a stretch (going via a transit point like Los Angeles); with the 767-300s, it is not even theoretically viable. This does not mean, however, that the airline is not interested in traffic to and from Asia. Andres Bianchi, CEO of LATAM Cargo, is eager to capture a larger slice of this business. He plans to ramp up connectivity to the region, particularly China, through more and closer interline activities with other carriers.
By Ian Putzger
Air Freight Correspondent | Toronto
For full article: http://www.asiacargonews.com/en/news/detail?id=2950