Qatar Airways Cargo adds Helsinki to its pharma network

October 5, 2017: Doha-based Qatar Airways Cargo has added Helsinki to its expanding pharma network, effective September 18. This is the cargo carrier’s 74th pharma destination introduced within a span of three months since Dublin was added to the pharma network in June this year.

Qatar Airways launched flights to the Finnish capital, Helsinki in October last year. The daily direct B787 Dreamliner flights provide more than 70 tonnes of belly capacity each way, connecting pharma import and export businesses to a global network of over 150 destinations via the airline’s state-of-the-art, GDP compliant hub in Doha.

Ulrich Ogiermann, Qatar Airways’ chief officer cargo, said, “We understand the intricacies in maintaining a seamless cool chain for pharmaceuticals. With the inclusion of Helsinki in our QR Pharma network, we can now offer pharmaceutical importers and exporters in Finland seamless connectivity, while adhering to the highest cool chain standards.”

Finland is a part of the strongly internationalised pharmaceutical market and boasts of top notch expertise in pharmaceutical research and development. The Finnish operating environment and especially the country’s state-of-the-art competence have attracted hundreds of clinical trials in Finland every year. The pharmaceutical service system in the country is dependent on imports, while exports of pharmaceutical substances and medicinal devices from Finland grew by over 6 percent in 2016.

The cargo carrier implements a complete quality audit and exacting training modules at each of its pharma stations, ensuring the high operating standards are met for handling pharmaceuticals and healthcare products. Expertly trained staff are on hand at every pharma destination to ensure the cool chain is unbroken.

QR Pharma, the cargo airline’s specialist product developed for pharmaceuticals and healthcare products, offers active solutions to maintain a consistent temperature throughout the transportation chain, as well as passive solutions.

To enhance its temperature-controlled product offering, Qatar Airways Cargo recently signed an agreement with Dokasch to offer its Opticooler range of temperature-controlled containers for pharmaceuticals and healthcare products. The cargo carrier’s customers can now choose from a range of active containers such as Envirotainer, CSafe, DoKaSch and va-Q-tec to transport their pharmaceuticals to and from the cargo carrier’s extensive network globally.

Qatar Airways Cargo commenced operations of a dedicated airside Climate Control Centre earlier this year. The 2,470 square metres GDP compliant facility with two zones operating for 2°C to 8°C or 15°C to 25°C enables the cargo carrier to handle an additional 2 million tonnes throughput per annum.