Frontier Scientific Solutions (Frontier) and Air Transport Services Group, Inc. (ATSG) have announced a landmark strategic partnership aimed at redefining the global delivery of temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals. The collaboration introduces a purpose-built air corridor exclusively designed for life sciences, ensuring uninterrupted temperature control, full shipment integrity, and enhanced visibility from origin to destination.
Frontier, a fully dedicated end-to-end logistics integrator, serves the life sciences sector exclusively, offering tailored solutions that meet the complex needs of pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies. ATSG, a leading provider of air cargo transportation solutions, brings decades of operational expertise in time-critical air logistics. Together, the two companies are creating a robust and scalable air logistics network capable of addressing the stringent regulatory, operational, and security requirements unique to life sciences.
The partnership leverages Frontier’s existing $1.5 billion infrastructure commitment from GID, which will be deployed for network expansion, facility enhancements, and operational advancements. This investment positions Frontier to establish a high-integrity logistics platform capable of serving major life science markets globally.
“The launch of this dedicated air network represents a major milestone in enhancing connected global infrastructure for life sciences,” said Steve Uebele, Chief Executive Officer of Frontier. “By connecting Europe and the United States, with additional strategic hubs under development, we are building a logistics backbone that minimizes handoffs, maintains continuous temperature control, and delivers total visibility and compliance across every stage of the supply chain.”
At the core of this collaboration is a dedicated fleet of temperature-controlled aircraft and validated global routes connecting key life science hubs worldwide. This specialized cold-chain network establishes a new benchmark for reliability, precision, and security in pharmaceutical logistics.
Greg Mays, President of ATSG, emphasized the partnership’s significance: “This collaboration reflects how ATSG leverages its air cargo expertise to deliver exceptional value to our partners. Transforming how critical products move and are protected is central to our mission. With over 40 years of experience in time-sensitive logistics networks, we have developed a dedicated solution designed to meet the highly regulated demands of the life sciences sector.”
Frontier’s operational model is designed to streamline supply chains and reduce the typical 20 or more handoffs seen in traditional pharmaceutical logistics to fewer than four. This reduction significantly mitigates risk, enhances temperature integrity, and improves overall reliability. Every aspect of the network—from facilities to processes—is dedicated exclusively to life sciences, supported by teams with industry-specific expertise and standard operating procedures optimized for zero-loss, zero-excursion performance.
By integrating cGDP-validated ground infrastructure, dedicated global airlift, and centralized quality oversight, Frontier is creating a cohesive end-to-end network that sets a new benchmark for life sciences logistics. The company’s model ensures that biologics, GLP-1 therapies, and other temperature-sensitive treatments are transported with precision, maintaining efficacy and safety for patients.
Frontier’s North American headquarters is anchored at its Wilmington, North Carolina air gateway, while Shannon, Ireland serves as the hub for operations across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The company has outlined plans for continued global expansion through 2026, with additional hubs under development to support major life science manufacturing and distribution centers.
The dedicated air network will also enable Frontier to establish secure, compliant cold corridors worldwide, addressing growing demand for temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals. These cold corridors are specifically designed to reduce transit times, maintain optimal storage conditions, and provide complete end-to-end visibility, ensuring that life-saving treatments reach patients safely and on time.
“This partnership is a game-changer for the pharmaceutical industry,” said Uebele. “It ensures that products are transported with uncompromised quality and integrity, from manufacturing sites to hospitals and pharmacies. By removing unnecessary touchpoints and implementing purpose-built infrastructure, we are not only enhancing reliability but also supporting the life sciences sector’s global growth.”
ATSG’s experience in operating air cargo networks with precision and compliance complements Frontier’s mission to deliver end-to-end logistics solutions. Together, the two companies are addressing the increasing complexity of global pharmaceutical supply chains, which face stringent regulatory oversight, temperature sensitivity, and heightened security requirements.
The collaboration also underscores the importance of technological integration in modern logistics. Advanced tracking, monitoring, and predictive analytics will allow Frontier and ATSG to provide real-time data on shipments, enabling proactive interventions in the event of potential delays or temperature deviations. This level of operational intelligence supports regulatory compliance, mitigates risk, and enhances customer confidence in the supply chain.
As biologics, gene therapies, and other specialized treatments continue to proliferate, the need for reliable, temperature-controlled logistics solutions has never been greater. By creating a dedicated air corridor, Frontier and ATSG are delivering a scalable, high-integrity solution that meets the evolving needs of the life sciences sector while ensuring patient safety.
In summary, this strategic partnership represents a transformative step in life sciences logistics. By combining Frontier’s sector-focused expertise with ATSG’s air cargo capabilities, the companies are pioneering a logistics network that delivers unparalleled reliability, temperature control, and compliance. With infrastructure expansion underway and new hubs planned worldwide, the partnership is set to establish a global standard for cold-chain logistics, supporting the delivery of critical therapies that improve patient outcomes and advance medical innovation.
