EMS returns to Campinas as Viracopos reinforces pharma logistics leadership

EMS flew from the French Riviera seaplane base at Théoule-sur-Mer to its home hub at Viracopos International Airport on June 8-9, touching down after an 11-hour Gulfstream G650ER crossing. The flight, completing an apparent European swing that included prior legs to the Nice area and a São Paulo shuttle, brings the pharmaceutical giant back to Campinas just as its home airport is making industry headlines.

Viracopos, which processes a third of Brazil's air cargo, announced its recertification of the IATA CEIV Pharma standard through 2028, per a report from Port Logweb this week. The terminal also debuted its Smart Pharma program and remains a finalist for the ACW World Air Cargo Awards' Cargo Hub of the Year category, with the ceremony scheduled for June 25 in Shanghai, according to Turisnews. For EMS, which operates five divisions and manufacturing plants across Brazil and Serbia, the upgraded cold-chain infrastructure directly supports its inbound pharmaceutical raw materials and finished drug distribution.

While EMS's corporate aircraft lease expired in 2018, the company's executive travel needs continue to link its Hortolândia headquarters with domestic plants and European outposts like Serbia's Galenika—a route pattern that regularly funnels through Viracopos. This week's return from France, following a shorter domestic hop days earlier, likely aligns with strategic pharma supply-chain discussions ahead of the airport's global cargo finals.