The cherry season bloomed again with Qatar Airways Cargo transporting over 1,400 tonnes of Chilean cherries between 13 November and 19 December on charter flights.
The carrier operated 14 Boeing 777 Freighter flights from Santiago in Chile, all the way to Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong via its state-of-the-art Doha hub at Hamad International Airport.
This is the second year Qatar Airways Cargo has collaborated with its major customers to transport Chilean cherries on dedicated charter flights.
Qatar Airways acting chief officer for cargo, Guillaume Halleux says: “Through our solution QR Fresh, we provide a seamless cool chain for all temperature-sensitive shipments, from their origin airport through to their final destination, thus preserving their quality and extending their shelf life.
Our product offering for these shipments complemented by innovative services such as the airside cool chain centre at Hamad International Airport, will definitely boost our business while enhancing the cool chain for temperature- sensitive products transiting through our world-class hub in Doha.”
Chilean cherries are in high demand in China and other Asian countries, and the harvest coincides with China’s Lunar New Year.
Through QR Fresh, Qatar Airways Cargo offers customers a reliable cool chain solution for their products, and the Hamad facility is fully compliant with IATA Chapter 17 standards.
A dedicated Climate Control team proactively monitors every shipment from beginning to end to ensure a seamless transfer, with dedicated cold rooms at the airline’s state-of-the-art fully automated warehouse in Doha, each with various temperature zones for the storage of perishables transiting the hub.
