The cargo carrier has signed an agreement with DoKaSch for the lease of temperature-controlled active containers for pharmaceutical transportation
DOHA, Qatar, 2017-Aug-28 — /Travel PR News/ — Qatar Airways Cargo has signed an agreement with DoKaSch Temperature Solutions to offer its Opticooler® range of temperature-controlled containers, providing Qatar Airways Cargo customers the choice of a range of active containers to transport their pharmaceuticals across the cargo carrier’s extensive global network.
Qatar Airways’ Chief Officer Cargo, Mr. Ulrich Ogiermann, said: “We understand the intricacies of a seamless cool chain and always aim to provide value to our customers. Through this agreement with DoKaSch, we have now expanded our active container offering for customers, presenting our business partners with more options to transport their pharmaceuticals globally.”
Andreas Seitz, Managing Director of DoKaSch Temperature Solutions, said: “We are very pleased to make our Opticooler® containers available through one of the world’s largest international cargo carriers. We are convinced that with Qatar Airways Cargo’s extensive and rapidly-growing network, and our joint commitment to quality and customer satisfaction, this partnership will provide a great solution for the global Pharma cool chain.”
The Active Cool Containers RAP and RKN Opticooler® are equipped with electric, battery-powered cooling compressors and heaters and require no dry ice. This high-end packaging solution safeguards the efficacy of vital pharmaceuticals throughout the transportation chain. Valued for their exceptional reliability and performance in any climate, these active containers keep the cargo within a temperature range of 2 to 8 degrees celsius or 15 to 25 degrees celsius. The system features a straightforward touchscreen interface, making the temperature setting extremely dependable.
Qatar Airways Cargo recently announced the launch of its brand new Climate Control Centre, a 2,470 square metre airside transit facility for temperature-sensitive cargo. The facility features two temperature-controlled zones operating at both 2 to 8 and 15 to 25 degrees celsius with a capacity to hold a total of 156 ULDs (unit load devices) at a time. Segregated sections within the facility enable storage of pharmaceutical products in compliance with ‘Good Distribution Practice’ (GDP) guidelines. To ensure complete temperature integrity, the facility is equipped with six truck docks, each with inflated curtains and an anteroom as a staging area.
QR Pharma is Qatar Airways Cargo’s specialist product developed for pharmaceuticals and healthcare cargo. It offers both active solutions to maintain a consistent temperature throughout the transportation chain, as well as passive solutions that handle products within a desired temperature band during all stages of the journey. As an industry leader, the cargo carrier ensures the fastest transfer at Doha through its unique Quick Ramp Transfer (QRT). It is the only cargo carrier in the Middle East to offer refrigerated or ‘reefer’ truck services for ramp transfers at its home hub.
Qatar Airways Cargo has invested considerably in quality handling, infrastructure, facilities, people and procedures at each of its Pharma stations, underpinning the need for high operating standards for transporting pharmaceuticals and healthcare products. Expertly-trained staff at every Pharma destination ensure the cool chain is unbroken. Plans are underway to add IoT devices on board the aircraft that will provide real-time temperature updates, enhancing and completing the end-to-end track and trace service.
The significant investments in the cool chain and expansion of its Pharma network is part of the cargo carrier’s strategy and commitment to improve and enhance its product offering for the benefit of the pharmaceutical industry globally. The cargo carrier’s QR Pharma volumes have grown by 42 per cent in 2016-17 over 2015-16.
Qatar Airways Cargo’s expanding Pharma network spans 73 stations, with the recent addition of Colombo on 15 May and Dublin on 12 June. It pioneered industry-leading Pharma Express flights from the key pharmaceutical hubs of Basel, Brussels, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad, supporting the huge pharmaceutical exports from these destinations.
About DoKaSch Temperature Solutions:
DoKaSch Temperature Solutions GmbH, a subsidiary of the DoKaSch Group runs a fleet of well-recognized Opticoolers RAP (5 pallets) and RKN (1 pallet), that are rentable for intercontinental air shipment of temperature-sensitive cargo. Founded in 2013, today the company cooperates with approximately 20 major airlines. DoKaSch Temperature Solutions has a global network at its disposal to fly highly temperature-sensitive goods around the world. Based at Frankfurt int’l airport DoKaSch Temperature Solutions handles the positioning, maintaining and servicing of the items.
Notes to Editors:
About Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways, the national carrier of the State of Qatar, is celebrating 20 years of Going Places Together with travellers across its more than 150 business and leisure destinations. The world’s fast growing airline will add a number of exciting new destinations to its growing network in 2017/18, including Dublin, Nice, Skopje, Sarajevo and many more, flying passengers on board its modern fleet of 200 aircraft.
A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was recently named Airline of the Year by the 2017 World Airline Awards, managed by international air transport rating organisation Skytrax. It was also named World’s Best Business Class, Best Airline in the Middle East, and World’s Best First Class Airline Lounge.
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.
Oryx One, Qatar Airways’ in-flight entertainment system offers passengers up to 4,000 entertainment options from the latest blockbuster movies, TV box sets, music, games and much more. Passengers flying on Qatar Airways flights served by its B787, A350, A380, A319 and select A320 and A330 aircraft can also stay in touch with their friends and family around the world by using the award-winning airline’s on-board Wi-Fi and GSM service.
Qatar Airways proudly supports a range of exciting international and local initiatives dedicated to enriching the global community that it serves. Qatar Airways, the official FIFA partner, is the official sponsor of many top-level sporting events, including the FIFA 2018 and 2022 World Cups, reflecting the values of sports as a means of bringing people together, something at the core of the airline’s own brand message – Going Places Together.
Qatar Airways Cargo, the world’s third largest international cargo carrier, serves 60 exclusive freighter destinations worldwide via its world-class Doha hub and also delivers freight to more than 150 key business and leisure destinations globally with 200 aircraft. The Qatar Airways Cargo fleet includes eight Airbus A330 freighters and 12 Boeing 777 freighters.
If you have any questions or require further information, please contact:
DoKaSch Temperature Solutions GmbH
Andreas Seitz
Managing Director
Möchhofallee 7
65451 Kelsterbach
Phone: +49 6142 836 938 40
Andreas.Seitz@dokasch-ts.com
Medienbüro am Reichstag GmbH
Beatrice Schätzle
PR contact for DoKaSch
Reinhardtstrasse 55
10117 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 2061 4130 24
Beatrice.schaetzle@mar-berlin.de
For further information, please contact:
Qatar Airways Group, Corporate Communications Department
Tel: +974 4022 2200
Source: Qatar Airways