Following the success of Qatar Airway’s “QR Pharma” express Brussels-Basel-Doha service, launched last January, Qatar is now beginning pharma express routes from India to Doha. The first route, beginning today, will operate from Mumbai via Ahmedabad to Doha on Tuesdays and Fridays. The second route will begin on Nov. 11, operating from Hyderabad to Doha 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. The facility will increase the hub’s overall capacity to 4.4 million tonnes per year, with the potential for further expansion to 7 million tonnes in the future.