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United Cargo is Partnering with Global Crossing Airline and Digital Middleman Airblox to Move Containers from Puerto Rico to Chicago
Puerto Rico’s Global Pharmaceutical Industry: UA Expands PR Pharma Exports
Invest Puerto Rico CSO John Bozek Shares the Mission, "Driving Economic Growth Promoting Puerto Rico as a World-Class Destination for Investment in Pharma."
United Cargo is Partnering with Global Crossing Airline and Airblox
United Cargo is Partnering with Global Crossing Airline and Digital Middleman Airblox to Move Containers from Puerto Rico to Chicago.Photo Courtesy of Eric Kulisch/FreightWaves
Mark Derho
United Airlines Utilizes Small Freighter for Puerto Rico’s Pharma Exports
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
Puerto Rico Plays an Essential Role in the Global Healthcare Supply Chain
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.
The island’s bioscience exports are crucial to the U.S. healthcare system, making efficient transport of these goods a national priority.
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.
How United Airlines’ New Cargo Strategy Works
1. Leveraging Freighter Aircraft for Direct Pharma Exports
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.
2. Digital Freight-Tech Innovation via Airblox
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.
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