Qatar Airways launches pharma flights from India

After the success of Qatar Airway’s “QR Pharma” express Brussels-Basel-Doha service, launched last January, Qatar Cargo has launched pharma express routes from India to Doha. It operates the Mumbai-Ahmedabad-Doha on Tuesdays and Fridays and the Hyderabad-Doha route on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Qatar’s QR Pharma is an airfreight service designed specifically for pharmaceutical and healthcare products, offering temperature-controlled containers that can maintain a constant temperature throughout transit, and can keep products within a defined temperature range throughout all stages of its journey. The Indian pharmaceuticals market is the world’s third-largest in terms of volume and 13th largest in terms of value, according to a report by Equitymaster. The Indian subcontinent is becoming an important market for pharma airfreight, and Qatar Airways Cargo is growing its presence in India to meet the growing demand, with 27 freighter frequencies per week now serving seven destinations. In addition, the carrier serves another 10 Indian destinations via passenger aircraft belly holds, flying to more than 10 other destinations in India. Qatar also plans to launch two new specialty products – QR Equine and QR Express – as well as a new multi-deck cargo facility, scheduled to open in 2018 near Hamad International Airport.