Qatar Airways Cargo and QAS Cargo secure IATA CEIV Fresh recertification
The multi-year renewal reinforces the carrier's strict adherence to global perishables handling benchmarks and continuous cold chain supply excellence.
In a significant milestone for global air freight logistics, Qatar Airways Cargo, alongside its primary ground handling partner Qatar Aviation Services Cargo (QAS Cargo), has officially achieved the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) Fresh recertification. This multi-year renewal reaffirms the cargo carrier's unwavering dedication to upholding the highest international standards in the handling, preservation, and global transportation of perishable goods.
The prestigious CEIV Fresh certification is meticulously aligned with IATA’s stringent Perishable Cargo Regulations (PCR). It encompasses an exhaustive evaluation of both operational shop-floor procedures and overarching quality management systems. By successfully securing this recertification, Qatar Airways Cargo highlights its continuous operational focus on delivering robust, uninterrupted end-to-end cold chain solutions across its extensive and expanding global commercial network.
The dedicated "Fresh" product portfolio offered by Qatar Airways Cargo accommodates an expansive and highly diverse array of delicate, temperature-sensitive perishable commodities. These critical shipments include fresh fruits, seasonal vegetables, high-value seafood, premium meats, live flowers, and temperature-critical confectionery products. The specialised handling infrastructure ensures that these sensitive goods fully maintain their core biological integrity, freshness, and merchantable quality throughout the entire transit lifecycle, from origin to final destination.
This successful recertification is the direct outcome of an integrated, ongoing programme focused on continuous improvement across both flight operations and hub-based ground handling workflows. To maintain this high benchmark, the collaboration involves regular internal and external audits, comprehensive process enhancements, specialised employee training initiatives, and seamless operational coordination between the teams at Qatar Airways Cargo and QAS Cargo. This unified approach guarantees absolute compliance with ever-evolving international regulatory frameworks.
Beyond its internal operational metrics, Qatar Airways Cargo continues to play an active leadership role in shaping the broader future of air logistics. The carrier actively contributes to the structural development of universal perishables handling protocols through its ongoing, strategic participation in the IATA Perishable Cargo Working Group (PCWG). Through this engagement, the airline helps spearhead the global evolution of supply chain best practices, safety regulations, and technological frameworks across the entire aviation sector.
Qatar Airways Cargo originally achieved its inaugural CEIV Fresh certification in June 2023. This latest successfully audited recertification extends the carrier's valid compliance status all the way through to June 2029, substantially cementing its commercial reputation as an exceptionally reliable partner for global shippers managing temperature-sensitive air freight.
The true scale of the airline's specialised market footprint is demonstrated by its latest performance metrics. Between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026, the carrier successfully transported more than 240,000 tonnes of perishable cargo worldwide. This massive volume highlights the critical role the airline plays in sustaining global food security, supporting international trade, and driving the perishables market forward.
