Qatar Airways Cargo launches additional Pharma Express Flights starting from Basel and Brussels

Feb 06, 2017: Qatar Airways Cargo has launched additional Pharma Express flights from the pharmaceutical hubs of Basel and Brussels to Doha, providing a unique and dedicated air service to the growing pharmaceutical industry.

Basel and Brussels are both home to the headquarters of major pharmaceutical companies, while the Swiss chemical exports are largely shipped out of Basel.

Qatar Airways Cargo has added an additional weekly frequency, operating on Fridays, from Basel to Doha starting February 3, whilst two additional Airbus A330 freighter services from Brussels to Doha on Wednesdays and Saturdays will commence on February 15. These newly added frequencies take the cargo carrier’s the total Pharma Express flights to 9 per week.

Qatar Airways’ chief officer cargo, Ulrich Ogiermann, said, “Air cargo standards for handling time- and-temperature- sensitive commodities such as pharmaceuticals are becoming more stringent, especially with the stricter guidelines on temperature control requirements. At Qatar Airways Cargo, we understand the intricacies involved in safeguarding the integrity of temperature-sensitive commodities during shipment. Therefore, we are committed to offering our customers seamless cool chain air logistics as well as uncompromised service standards compliant with Good Distribution Practice (GDP) requirements. Our Pharma Express flights are launched to cater to the rapidly expanding pharmaceutical industry.”

Pharma Express flights were launched in 2015 and currently operate from pharmaceutical hubs of Brussels, Basel, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad, transporting more than 30,000 tonnes of pharmaceuticals each year. These routes are served by the Airbus A330 freighter aircraft, offering 65 to 68 tonnes of capacity each way.

The cargo carrier’s QR Pharma network currently covers 71 destinations worldwide with Ho Chi Minh City and São Paulo added recently.