Pharmaceuticals by Air Freight to America

Why pharmaceuticals by air freight?

Pharmaceuticals require speed, control, and traceability — three core qualities of air freight. Medicines, vaccines, and biologicals are valuable, time-critical, and temperature-sensitive. Sea transport takes weeks and offers insufficient control over the cold chain. Air freight takes 1–3 days — with continuous monitoring.

Schiphol is one of Europe's leading pharma cargo hubs: KLM Cargo's Pharma Gateway Amsterdam (PGA) is certified for GDP transport and offers specialized storage and handling facilities for pharmaceutical air freight at the airport itself.

When is air freight indispensable for pharma?

• Clinical trials: samples and study medication must arrive exactly on time
• Acute drug shortages where every day counts
• Vaccines and biologicals with short shelf life or strict cold chain
• High-value APIs where risk of delay is unacceptable
• Compassionate use: individual patient shipments

Exporting to the United States

The US is the world's largest importer and a top destination for Dutch exporters. Schiphol offers daily direct cargo flights to New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), Chicago (ORD), and Atlanta (ATL), with a flight time of approximately 9 hours. Due to the extensive options, air freight rates to the US are generally competitive.

US Customs & Border Protection (CBP)

US customs requires a correct Airway Bill, commercial invoice, and packing list for every shipment. For shipments over $800, a formal customs entry (ISF filing) is mandatory. Electronics, pharmaceuticals, and dual-use goods may require additional permits, such as an EAR export license or FDA registration of the manufacturer.

What you need to know

• Lithium batteries are subject to IATA DGR regulations — always notify in advance
• Certain goods fall under EAR (Export Administration Regulations) and require a BIS license
• The US does not charge VAT but does impose customs duties — your buyer pays these upon import
• ISF 10+2 filing is mandatory for sea freight; for air freight, AMS (Advance Manifest System) applies

Aircargo.nl handles all export documentation for shipments to the US and has established relationships with US customs agents at all major hubs.

Points of attention for air freight pharmaceuticals

GDP transport mandatory

Pharmaceuticals must be transported according to Good Distribution Practice (GDP) guidelines. This means an unbroken cold chain with temperature recording, certified storage, and documentation proving that the temperature remained within the required range during the entire transport. Aircargo.nl works exclusively with GDP-certified handlers and airlines.

Temperature requirements

Most pharmaceutical products require transport at 2–8°C (cold chain) or 15–25°C (room temperature). Biologicals, vaccines, and certain diagnostics require -20°C or lower (frozen transport). Each shipment is provided with a calibrated temperature logger and a temperature excursion report if applicable.

Regulatory documentation

• GDP certificate from the sender
• Import or export permit depending on product type and destination country
• Controlled substances: DEA license (US) or national narcotics permit
• Batch release certificates for biologicals