Qatar Airways expands pharma network

Doha-based Qatar Airways has added Colombo (Sri Lanka) and Dublin (Republic of Ireland) to its pharma network, bringing the total number of destinations covered to 73. Operations to Colombo began on 15 May, while Dublin is due to become active on 12 June with the launch of the carrier’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner flights to the Irish city.
Qatar Airways chief officer cargo, Ulrich Ogiermann, observed: “We are experiencing consistent growth each year in the airfreight of pharmaceuticals and healthcare products globally. The expansion of our pharma network to these destinations gives us the opportunity to support expanding pharma businesses in Sri Lanka, the Republic of Ireland and globally.
“Customers stand to benefit from a seamless cool chain as well as uncompromised service standards. Qatar Airways Cargo customers in the Republic of Ireland will also greatly benefit in terms of time and cost savings, as they will no longer have to truck their freight from the Republic of Ireland to United Kingdom,” he pointed out.
The Republic of Ireland is home to nine out of the world’s top ten largest pharmaceutical companies, making it a leading global hub for the industry, while Sri Lanka launched a pharmaceutical manufacturing project at its Export Processing Zone last year and expects pharma exports earnings to outstrip tea export revenue in the future, Qatar Airways said.
At this year’s Air Cargo Europe exhibition, the carrier announced a brand new 2,470 sq m airside Climate Control Centre at Doha, with separate zones for 2°- 8°C and 15°- 25°C ranges and 156 ULDs at a time. It added a fourth weekly Airbus A330 Freighter flight linking Basel and Doha on 8 May in response to growth in global demand for Swiss pharmaceuticals.
Qatar Airways’ QR Pharma solution offers active and passive options to ensure the integrity of pharmaceutical shipments and provides a unique Quick Ramp Transfer service at its Doha hub, using refrigerated trucks for ramp transfers there.