TNT Express today launched a five day per week air cargo service linking Moscow and its mainEuropean hub at Liege to offer a secure shipping service for international companies expanding in
Russia.The new route, operated by a B737-300 via Warsaw, provides 16 tonnes of capacity and will secureand speed up the expedition of time-critical shipments such as automotive parts and healthcareshipments to and from Russia.
The strategic air connection with Moscow will particularly strengthen service to the healthcareindustry, TNT said. Shipments benefiting from the new service will include clinical supplies andbiological samples such as blood and human tissues.
In 2009, the Russian pharmaceutical market grew by 18% in value to US$17 billion and mayincrease by a further 11% in 2010, according to market research firm DSM Group. Russia is becomingan increasingly bigger market for pharmaceutical companies, due to the size of the population, thegovernment’s drug reimbursement program, and the increase in drug consumption.Temperature-sensitive biological samples already account for a large proportion of TNT’s shipmentsout of Russia.
“TNT is moving more and more clinical samples out of Russia. Using our own scheduled air servicewill simplify and guarantee the uplift of these time-sensitive shipments.” says Mirko Mueller, TNT’s Global Industry Director Healthcare. “This gives us 100% control over the cold chain from originto destination.”
TNT has expanded its presence in the Russian market in recent years with new domestic andinternational services, including dedicated services for the clinical trials market. These comprisea clinical trials co-ordination centre desk in Moscow, special vehicles to collect and delivertemperature-controlled shipments, and expedited customs clearance.
In March 2010, TNT started connecting Western Europe with Yekaterinburg, the largest city in theUrals (1,667 km east of Moscow) with 1.3 million inhabitants. TNT’s European Road Network alsoconnects Moscow, St Petersburg and Nizhniy Novgorod. TNT has 800 employees, 13 depots and 35offices in Russia.
