Cold Chain Infrastructure and Pharma Cargo Logistics
As part of our ongoing specialization in vaccinology within the Master LIVE program, our cohort visited Brussels Airport on March 27th, one of Europe’s key pharmaceutical logistics hubs. The visit, led by Mr. Sam Quintelier, Senior Business & Network Development Manager for Pharma & Life Sciences Cargo at Brussels Airport Company, provided an in-depth overview of how advanced infrastructure and coordinated stakeholder systems ensure the safety and efficacy of vaccines in global transit.
Brussels Airport, Belgium’s second-largest logistics node after the Port of Antwerp, handles approximately 23.6 million passengers and 733,000 tons of freight annually. Its strategic location and status as a transport hub—serving 210 destinations via 80 airlines—make it essential to the distribution of temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals, including vaccines and biologicals.
Mr. Quintelier guided us through the airport’s comprehensive vaccine logistics operations, supplemented by insights from an expeditor, a major cargo handler with extensive experience. We examined the operational flow of vaccine distribution across multimodal networks, integrating trucks, aircraft, and global distribution centers. Key systems such as refrigerated and insulated containers, paired with digital temperature loggers, ensure data-driven transparency and compliance throughout transit. We discussed innovations, including real-time tracking and adaptations developed during the COVID-19 pandemic that enabled agile and scalable vaccine deployment.
The visit highlighted Brussels Airport’s role beyond transit, emphasizing its function as a logistics orchestrator. Through strategic partnerships and regulated operational standards, the airport ensures cargo handling companies adhere to Global Distribution Practice-compliant protocols, temperature controls, and pharmaceutical-grade service levels.
Central to our learning was an exploration of the pharmaceutical cold chain—a complex, end-to-end system preserving the stability of heat-sensitive biologicals from manufacturing to administration. We studied Temperature Management Principles applied via thermo-stability data to design transport protocols that safeguard product integrity through multiple transfer points.
We observed active and passive temperature-control technologies in use. At expeditor’s facility, we examined climate-controlled ground zones, insulated packaging, phase change materials, and refrigerated ULD containers designed for air freight of temperature-sensitive goods. Tarmac transitions, identified as critical points in the cold chain, require precise timing and specialized equipment to maintain thermal integrity. Products are received early and dispatched late to minimize ambient temperature exposure, with heat-controlled trailers used for transfers and sensitive cargo buffered by less temperature-critical items. Placement within aircraft is carefully managed to protect the most sensitive pharmaceuticals.
The visit also underscored the interdisciplinary collaboration necessary to maintain pharmaceutical quality, involving pharmacology, engineering, aviation, logistics, and regulatory expertise. Mr. Quintelier’s tour of the airside operations and a parked DHL cargo flight illustrated the distinct design of cargo aircraft and its importance in handling large volumes of sensitive products. This experience demonstrated how Brussels Airport integrates these competencies into a resilient, secure, and sustainable distribution system.
This field visit enhanced our technical understanding of vaccine logistics and revealed the operational complexities behind the vaccine health model that extend beyond theoretical study. Witnessing the active roles of handling agents and the airport provided practical insights into real-world challenges and solutions in maintaining vaccine integrity.
We extend our sincere gratitude to Mr. Sam Quintelier, the Brussels Airport Pharma & Life Sciences Cargo team, and the expeditor for sharing their expertise. We also thank our LIVE Team’s Sara Van Looy, for facilitating this invaluable visit.
Master LIVE M1 visit Brussels airport: Logistics in Vaccinology
Cold Chain Infrastructure and Pharma Cargo Logistics
As part of our ongoing specialization in vaccinology within the Master LIVE program, our cohort visited Brussels Airport on March 27th, one of Europe’s key pharmaceutical logistics hubs. The visit, led by Mr. Sam Quintelier, Senior Business & Network Development Manager for Pharma & Life Sciences Cargo at Brussels Airport Company, provided an in-depth overview of how advanced infrastructure and coordinated stakeholder systems ensure the safety and efficacy of vaccines in global transit.
Brussels Airport, Belgium’s second-largest logistics node after the Port of Antwerp, handles approximately 23.6 million passengers and 733,000 tons of freight annually. Its strategic location and status as a transport hub—serving 210 destinations via 80 airlines—make it essential to the distribution of temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals, including vaccines and biologicals.
Mr. Quintelier guided us through the airport’s comprehensive vaccine logistics operations, supplemented by insights from an expeditor, a major cargo handler with extensive experience. We examined the operational flow of vaccine distribution across multimodal networks, integrating trucks, aircraft, and global distribution centers. Key systems such as refrigerated and insulated containers, paired with digital temperature loggers, ensure data-driven transparency and compliance throughout transit. We discussed innovations, including real-time tracking and adaptations developed during the COVID-19 pandemic that enabled agile and scalable vaccine deployment.
The visit highlighted Brussels Airport’s role beyond transit, emphasizing its function as a logistics orchestrator. Through strategic partnerships and regulated operational standards, the airport ensures cargo handling companies adhere to Global Distribution Practice-compliant protocols, temperature controls, and pharmaceutical-grade service levels.
Central to our learning was an exploration of the pharmaceutical cold chain—a complex, end-to-end system preserving the stability of heat-sensitive biologicals from manufacturing to administration. We studied Temperature Management Principles applied via thermo-stability data to design transport protocols that safeguard product integrity through multiple transfer points.
We observed active and passive temperature-control technologies in use. At expeditor’s facility, we examined climate-controlled ground zones, insulated packaging, phase change materials, and refrigerated ULD containers designed for air freight of temperature-sensitive goods. Tarmac transitions, identified as critical points in the cold chain, require precise timing and specialized equipment to maintain thermal integrity. Products are received early and dispatched late to minimize ambient temperature exposure, with heat-controlled trailers used for transfers and sensitive cargo buffered by less temperature-critical items. Placement within aircraft is carefully managed to protect the most sensitive pharmaceuticals.
The visit also underscored the interdisciplinary collaboration necessary to maintain pharmaceutical quality, involving pharmacology, engineering, aviation, logistics, and regulatory expertise. Mr. Quintelier’s tour of the airside operations and a parked DHL cargo flight illustrated the distinct design of cargo aircraft and its importance in handling large volumes of sensitive products. This experience demonstrated how Brussels Airport integrates these competencies into a resilient, secure, and sustainable distribution system.
This field visit enhanced our technical understanding of vaccine logistics and revealed the operational complexities behind the vaccine health model that extend beyond theoretical study. Witnessing the active roles of handling agents and the airport provided practical insights into real-world challenges and solutions in maintaining vaccine integrity.
We extend our sincere gratitude to Mr. Sam Quintelier, the Brussels Airport Pharma & Life Sciences Cargo team, and the expeditor for sharing their expertise. We also thank our LIVE Team’s Sara Van Looy, for facilitating this invaluable visit.
2025.04.04 – Belkaid Prom’
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