The airline said it has operated Boeing 777 jets on trial flights between Miami and unspecified points in South America this month.
“The trial flights stimulate the conditions required for the COVID-19 vaccine to stress test the thermal packaging and operational handling process that will ultimately ensure it remains stable as it moves across the globe,” the airline said in a statement.
American said it has already shipped vaccines and specimens used in the coronavirus vaccine clinical trials.
The vaccines require “special handling to keep a consistently cold temperature throughout their journey,” American said. It uses two types of containers: Active containers that contain temperature controlling technology and passive containers that keep shipments chilled with cold packs or dry ice.
The airline says it has technology to track the vaccines during shipment.