Qatar Airways Cargo gets Envirotainer QEP accreditation

January 24, 2018: Qatar Airways Cargo recently received the Qualified Envirotainer Provider Training and Quality Programme (QEP) accreditation for five of its destinations-Amsterdam, Basel, Paris, Chicago, Doha, Qatar.

The QEP programme has recognised the air cargo carrier for operating Envirotainer containers in compliance with Good Distribution Practice (GDP).

By receiving the QEP accreditation, Qatar Airways Cargo has proven its credibility in providing its global customers first-rate air transportation of pharmaceutical products.

Guillaume Halleux, acting chief officer cargo of Qatar Airway said: “Qatar Airways Cargo has been managing Envirotainers since 2015 to transport pharmaceuticals. We are proud to receive the QEP accreditation that acknowledges our high standards in handling active pharma containers throughout our network, thereby maintaining the efficacy of pharmaceutical products. As one of the leading international cargo carriers, we remain committed to offering a seamless cool chain to our customers through constant innovation and enhancement of our service quality.”

Bourji Mourad, global head of partner management of Envirotainer said: “Our longstanding relationship with Qatar Airways Cargo continues to evolve and grow. This much-deserved QEP accreditation is yet another positive step forward, ensuring that key industry standards are met regarding the correct and safe handling of all types of containers and technologies offered by Envirotainer. The ultimate goal is safer transportation of healthcare products by air around the globe.”

More stations throughout the carrier's network is expected to be included in the accreditation in the future, as Qatar Airways Cargo continues to enhance its cool chain solution for the benefit of its pharmaceutical customers and end users.

Since the launch of QR Pharma in 2014, the cargo carrier has invested considerably in quality handling, infrastructure, people and procedures at each pharma destinations, underpinning the need for high operating standards for transportation of pharmaceuticals and healthcare products. Expertly-trained staff at every pharma destination ensure the cool chain transfer from origin to destination is seamless.

Today, Qatar Airways Cargo's pharma network spans 75 destinations across the world, and helps meet the growing air freight requirements in the pharmaceutical industry where time and temperature management are of paramount importance.

The cargo carrier ensures a complete quality audit and exacting training modules at each of its pharma stations and its customers can now choose from a range of active containers, such as Envirotainer, CSafe, DoKaSch and va-Q-tec to transport pharmaceuticals across the cargo carrier's extensive global network.

This year, Qatar Airways Cargo unveiled its state-of-the-art airside climate control centre. This 2,470 square metres airside transit facility for temperature-sensitive cargo 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 unit load devices (ULDs) at a time.

To ensure complete temperature integrity, the facility is equipped with six truck docks, each with inflated curtains and an anteroom as a staging area. While segregated sections within the facility enable storage of pharmaceutical products in compliance with Good Distribution Practice (GDP) guidelines.