Additional routes added following the highly-successful Brussels-Basel-Doha Pharma Express route launched in January 2015
DOHA, Qatar, 2015-11-10 — /Travel PR News/ — Qatar Airways Cargo today announced the launch of two new Pharma Express routes from India to Doha, providing a unique and dedicated service to the pharmaceutical industry. These additional routes to the airline’s network have been added following the success of the Brussels-Basel-Doha Pharma Express route launched in January 2015.
The first new Pharma Express route will commence on 10 November and will operate from Mumbai via Ahmedabad to Doha on Tuesdays and Fridays. The second new Pharma Express route will commence on 11 November and will operate from Hyderabad to Doha on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Both flights will offer connectivity across Qatar Airways’ extensive global network.
“We are delighted to launch two new pharma express routes from India,” said Mr. Ulrich Ogiermann, Qatar Airways Chief Officer Cargo. “To date, we are the only airline offering this dedicated service to the pharmaceutical industry. The Pharma Express flights will cater to the growing pharmaceutical industry in the region. Air cargo standards for handling time and temperature-sensitive commodities such as pharmaceuticals are becoming more stringent, with stricter guidelines on temperature control. Our thorough understanding of the intricacies involved in safeguarding the integrity of these commodities ensures that Qatar Airways Cargo continues to provide meticulous and uncompromised service standards in line with Good Distribution Practice requirements.”
The QR Pharma service will also be provided on both these express routes.
QR Pharma, which is an air freight service for pharmaceutical and healthcare products, offers both active and passive solutions. The active solution provides temperature-controlled containers, which are designed to maintain a constant temperature throughout the entire transportation chain. The passive solution keeps the product within a defined temperature band at all stages of the journey.
As an industry leader, Qatar Airways Cargo offers the fastest airline transfer at Doha through its Quick Ramp Transfer (QRT) solution. It is the only carrier in the Middle East to offer refrigerated or ‘reefer’ truck services for ramp transfers at its home hub. Sensitive commodities are collected from and delivered directly to the aircraft by specialised temperature-controlled vehicles to ensure that the cool chain process is seamless, thereby eliminating risk to temperature exposure.
The Indian pharmaceuticals market is the world’s third largest in terms of volume and 13th largest in terms of value, according to a report by Equitymaster. The Indian subcontinent is a very important market for air freight. With 27 freighter frequencies per week to India, serving seven destinations as well as belly-hold cargo capacity to over 10 destinations in India, Qatar Airways Cargo’s presence in India is expanding to meet this growing demand.
Qatar Airways Cargo recently announced at a packed cargo press conference in Doha that it is now the third largest international cargo airline in the world, according to the latest IATA international FTK figures. This is phenomenal growth for the rapidly expanding company, which has risen to the number three position from 16th place in just five years, and now boasts a freighter fleet of six Airbus 330s, eight Boeing 777s and one Boeing 747.
Further announcements made at the press conference included plans to launch two new speciality products: QR Equine and QR Express. Qatar Airways’ Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker also revealed plans for a new multi-deck cargo facility to be opened by 2018 at Hamad International Airport. When complete the new facility will increase the hub’s overall capacity to 4.4 million tonnes per year with the potential for further expansion to 7 million tonnes in the future.
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Notes to editors:
Qatar Airways, the national carrier of the State of Qatar, is one of the fastest growing airlines operating one of the youngest fleets in the world. Qatar Airways won Airline of the Year, Best Business Class Airline Seat and Best Airline in the Middle East at the 2015 Skytrax Awards. This is the third time the airline has won the accolade of Airline of the Year.
Qatar Airways is a member of the oneworld global alliance. The award-winning alliance was named the World’s Best Airline Alliance 2015 by Skytrax for the third year running. Qatar Airways was the first Gulf carrier to join global airline alliance, oneworld, enabling its passengers to benefit from more than 1,000 airports in more than 150 countries, with 14,250 daily departures.
Qatar Airways recently launched Oryx One, an enhanced interface for its inflight entertainment system, increasing the number of movies and TV shows on board from 950 to up to 2,000. Passengers flying on Qatar Airways flights served by its B787, A350, A380, A319 and select A330 aircraft can also stay in touch with their friends and family around the world by using the five-star airline’s on-board Wifi and GSM service.
Qatar Airways Cargo, the world’s third largest cargo carrier, serves more than 40 exclusive freighter destinations worldwide via its Doha hub and also delivers freight to more than 150 key business and leisure destinations globally on 170 aircraft. The Qatar Airways Cargo fleet now includes six Airbus 330, eight Boeing 777 freighters and one Boeing 747 freighter.
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For further information contact:
Qatar Airways Group, Corporate Communications Department
Tel: +974 40222072, Fax: +974 40225350
E-mail: qrmedia@qatarairways.com.qa
Website: www.qatarairways.com
SOURCE: Qatar Airways
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Qatar Airways Cargo provides dedicated service to the pharmaceutical industry with the launch of two new Pharma Express routes from India to Doha