DOHA: Qatar Airways Cargo (QAC) has announced to launch its seventh freighter destination in India.
The new service begins on February 3 to Ahmedabad, the largest city in the western state of Gujarat, according to a statement yesterday.
The twice weekly Airbus A330 service will depart Doha on Tuesdays and Fridays with a stop in Mumbai before heading to Ahmedabad.
Departure from Ahmedabad to Doha is on the same day.
QAC will operate the service alongside daily passenger flights the airline operates to Ahmedabad.
Ahmedabad has emerged as an important economic and industrial hub in India, and textiles, chemicals, automobiles and pharmaceuticals are some of its major industries.
It also has a growing biotechnology industry with the presence of over 50 biotechnology firms and around 66 support organisations.
The city is renowned as the largest supplier of denim and one of the largest exporters of gemstones and jewellery.
Qatar Airways Chief Officer Cargo, Ulrich Ogiermann, said: “We are looking forward to commencing operations to Ahmedabad, our seventh freighter destination in India. We carry cargo on the lower deck of daily passenger flights to the city and being the only international carrier to provide freighter services to Ahmedabad, we will be able to provide more capacity into and out of the industrial city and Gujarat.”
The year 2014 was highly productive for QAC with the launch of QR Pharma for pharmaceuticals and healthcare products and QR Fresh for perishable products; and the migration to the fully automated cargo facility at Hamad International Airport.
QAC also launched 11 freighter destinations in 2014, including Delhi and Hyderabad in India. This year the airline has commenced operations to the Swiss city of Basel and launched the Pharma Express route, linking the pharmaceutical hubs of Brussels and Basel via Doha to the expanding network.The Peninsula
