United Airlines and DHL Global Forwarding are expanding their partnership in Puerto Rico to grow its pharmaceutical and life sciences industry with more flights and cold chain storage upgrades.

Under the partnership, United will increase services from New York’s Newark Liberty International Airport to San Juan’s Luis Munoz Marin Airport from one a week to six using a Boeing 777.

DHL will divide its 5,616 square foot warehouse in San Juan into three independently operated cold chambers with a combined capacity of 324 pallets using single pallet racks or 486 pallets on double deep racks.

Each of the three chambers will operate at 15 to 25° C (59 to 77° F) and have 100 percent redundant refrigeration systems. The chambers will also have a hot gas injection system to maintain required relative humidity levels during operation.

DHL Global Forwarding head of sales & marketing for DHL Temperature Management Solutions, Frank Cascante says: “Pharmaceutical companies have increasingly invested in Puerto Rico over the years, and they need a strong global network and cold chain infrastructure to handle their delicate medicines and pharmaceutical products.”

United Cargo vice president of Sales Americas, Jim Bellinder adds: “By expanding our TempControl service for temperature-sensitive patient care products into San Juan, United is improving the lives and health of people in Puerto Rico and around the world.”