A recent FreightWaves article titled "United Airlines Leverages Small Freighter for Puerto Rico Pharma Exports" highlights the airline’s role in supporting Puerto Rico’s pharmaceutical industry.
John Bozek, Chief Strategy Officer of Invest Puerto Rico, emphasizes the organization's mission of "Driving Puerto Rico's Economic Growth" through strategic partnerships and infrastructure improvements.
The article showcases how United Airlines’ dedicated freighter service contributes to the island’s economic development by facilitating efficient pharmaceutical exports.
“Expansions like this one highlight the growth of the air cargo and logistics community in Puerto Rico, a sector that has proven to be key to the island's economic competitiveness. This reinforces our ability to offer advanced logistics solutions, supporting our commitment to promoting Puerto Rico as a world-class destination for investment in Pharma and Medical Device manufacturing and other key sectors.”John Bozek, Chief Strategy Officer of Invest Puerto Rico
A dozen of the world’s top 20 pharmaceutical companies, including Johnson & Johnson, Roche, and AbbVie, have manufacturing facilities on the island. Eight of the world’s 15 top-selling biopharmaceutical products are produced in Puerto Rico. Major medical device manufacturers, such as Medtronic, CooperVision, and Boston Scientific, also operate significant facilities here.
However, traditional cargo solutions have faced bottlenecks, often relying on indirect routes or limited cargo space on passenger planes. This new partnership offers a direct, strategic alternative, providing Puerto Rico’s pharma sector with a more agile and reliable export network.
Historically, United Airlines transported pharmaceutical products from Puerto Rico using the cargo hold of passenger aircraft, particularly Boeing 737 MAX 9 flights from San Juan to Chicago. However, these aircraft cannot accommodate large cargo containers, requiring shipments to be transported as loose cargo, adding complexity and delays.
To solve this issue, United Cargo is now utilizing narrowbody freighters operated by Global Crossing Airlines (GlobalX), a Miami-based startup airline specializing in cargo and charter flights. This freighter service allows:
Larger, containerized shipments that are easier to handle and transfer.
Faster processing times, since cargo can be directly loaded onto connecting aircraft.
Increased reliability for Puerto Rico’s pharma industry, reducing dependence on indirect routes.
With three weekly flights from San Juan to Chicago, this service optimizes the supply chain for pharma companies exporting to the Midwest and beyond.
A key component of this partnership is the involvement of Airblox, a startup digital freight-tech company that offers a marketplace for airlines to sell future cargo space.
This innovation provides freight forwarders and logistics companies with:
Guaranteed cargo capacity on specific routes, reducing uncertainty.
More competitive pricing by allowing forwarders to book space in advance.
A modern, digital approach to an industry that has traditionally relied on manual bookings.
By integrating technology-driven solutions, United Airlines and its partners are pioneering a more efficient and transparent logistics ecosystem.
Chicago is a major gateway for international cargo, offering connectivity to Asia, Europe, and South America. By routing Puerto Rico’s pharmaceutical shipments through Chicago instead of Newark (EWR)—United’s previous primary hub for PR cargo—this new service:
Shortens transit times for shipments headed to the Midwest and beyond.
Reduces the need for trucking from Miami, where many shipments previously landed.
Improves cold-chain logistics, crucial for temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products.
The FreightWaves article stated that according to Manu Jacobs, United Cargo’s Managing Director of Specialty Products, Chicago provides an ideal distribution point due to its robust air cargo infrastructure and direct flight options worldwide.
Despite Puerto Rico’s dominance in pharmaceutical manufacturing, exports to the U.S. declined in 2024. This drop was largely due to a shift toward ocean freight for medical devices, as companies sought lower shipping costs.
However, pharmaceutical products, which require temperature control and time-sensitive delivery, still depend on air transport. By introducing dedicated freighter capacity, United Airlines helps counteract this decline, ensuring Puerto Rico pharma exports remain competitive.
By enhancing supply chain efficiency, this initiative strengthens Puerto Rico’s economy in several ways:
More reliable exports mean pharmaceutical companies can maintain and expand their operations.
Attracting further investment from global pharma and logistics firms.
Job creation in air cargo handling, logistics, and related industries.
This move aligns with Invest Puerto Rico’s mission to position the island as a global hub for bioscience and logistics innovation.
According to Sascha Herzig, CEO of ETH Cargo, the introduction of a dedicated freighter service is a game-changer. Many shipments previously had to be routed through Miami and then trucked to destinations like Indianapolis, a major U.S. pharma hub. Now, Chicago offers a faster and more efficient alternative.
This partnership is not just about Puerto Rico—it’s a proof of concept for how airlines can leverage freighter aircraft and digital platforms to improve air cargo efficiency worldwide. As global air cargo demand grows, other airlines may adopt similar strategies, particularly for high-value industries like pharmaceuticals.
United Airlines has not ruled out expanding this model to other high-demand pharma routes, potentially connecting Puerto Rico directly to European or Asian markets via similar freighter agreements.
The United Cargo – GlobalX – Airblox partnership marks a pivotal moment for Puerto Rico’s pharmaceutical exports. By embracing dedicated freighter capacity and digital #freighttech, United Airlines is setting a new standard for pharma logistics efficiency.
This move offers greater flexibility, speed, and reliability, reinforcing Puerto Rico’s status as a global bioscience leader while driving economic growth on the island.
For pharmaceutical companies, logistics providers, and investors, this strategic shift presents new opportunities—one that could redefine the future of air cargo in the healthcare sector.