In a landmark achievement for Indian aviation and pharmaceutical logistics, Air India has become the first Indian airline to receive Good Distribution Practices (GDP) certification for its cargo operations, marking a critical step forward in India’s ambitions to be a global hub for pharmaceutical exports.
The certification, awarded after a rigorous audit of Air India’s cargo operations, validates the airline’s full compliance with international standards for the safe handling, storage, and transport of temperature and time-sensitive pharmaceutical products.
India is currently one of the top three pharmaceutical exporters globally, with shipments of critical vaccines, biologics, and life-saving medications bound for destinations across Europe, North America, and Asia. In this context, Air India’s certification is not just a feather in its cap but a strategic win for India’s entire pharma supply chain infrastructure.
“In a country where pharmaceuticals are a cornerstone of exports, precision and compliance in logistics are non-negotiable,” said Ramesh Mamidala, Head of Cargo at Air India. “Our GDP certification gives partners and clients worldwide the assurance that Air India is equipped to uphold the integrity of every shipment, from origin to destination.”
In FY 2024–25 alone, Air India transported over 4,000 tonnes of pharmaceutical goods globally.
The certification covers Air India’s major domestic cargo hubs, including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Indore, and Goa. Internationally, the certification extends to New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Chicago, London Heathrow, Paris, Frankfurt, and Amsterdam, strategically chosen gateways for India’s pharma exports.
To elevate its pharmaceutical handling capacity, Air India has:
- Partnered with GDP/CEIV-certified cargo terminal operators
- Integrated active/passive temperature-controlled container solutions
- Equipped key airports like Delhi with cool dollies and thermal blankets
- Trained staff in IATA’s Temperature Control Regulations (TCR)
- Strengthened quality assurance through rigorous documentation and CAPA systems
This certification is timely. With India’s pharma exports growing at nearly 10% annually, logistics providers must adapt to increasingly complex regulatory environments and customer demands. GDP certification, widely recognised in Europe and other regulated markets, is rapidly becoming a prerequisite for entry.
Air India’s achievement also places it alongside a select group of GDP-certified Asian carriers, signalling a shift in how Indian logistics players are viewed on the global stage, not just as participants, but as leaders.
This milestone comes amid Air India’s ongoing Vihaan.AI transformation programme, following its return to the Tata Group. The airline is modernising its fleet, expanding cargo operations, and investing in aviation training and maintenance infrastructure, including a greenfield MRO facility set to launch in 2026.
With over 300 aircraft, 55 domestic, and 48 international destinations, Air India is now better positioned than ever to meet the evolving needs of global pharmaceutical supply chains, seamlessly connecting labs and life-saving therapies to patients around the world.
