Qatar Airways Cargo expands pharma flights

The Doha-based airline has initiated additional pharmaceutical freighter flights from Basel, Switzerland and Brussels to Doha.
Source: Qatar Airways Qatar Airways Cargo started an additional weekly flight from Basel to Doha, and launched two additional Airbus A330 freighter services from Brussels to Doha on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
   Qatar Airways Cargo has initiated additional pharmaceutical cargo flights from Basel, Switzerland and Brussels to Doha, the airline said.
   Basel and Brussels are the headquarters of major pharmaceutical companies, while Swiss chemical exports are largely shipped out of Basel.
   On Feb. 15, Qatar Airways Cargo started an additional weekly flight, operating on Fridays, from Basel to Doha, and launched two additional Airbus A330 freighter services from Brussels to Doha on Wednesdays and Saturdays. These new frequencies take the cargo carrier’s so-called “Pharma Express” flights up to nine per week.
   The airline started its all-cargo Pharma Express service in 2015. The service currently serves pharmaceutical hubs such as Brussels, Basel, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad, transporting more than 30,000 tons of pharmaceuticals annually. These routes are served by the Airbus A330 freighter aircraft, offering 65 to 68 tons of capacity per flight, Qatar Airways said.
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Chris Gillis

Located in the Washington, D.C. area, Chris Gillis primarily reports on regulatory and legislative topics that impact cross-border trade. He joined American Shipper in 1994, shortly after graduating from Mount St. Mary’s College in Emmitsburg, Md., with a degree in international business and economics.