Gulf carrier Qatar Airways Cargo will be a major player in three new regions of the globe within the next year, according to chief officer-cargo Ulrich Ogiermann.
China is a major market for Qatar Airways Cargo, which operates dedicated freighter services to Guangzhou, Shanghai and Hong Kong, while the airline’s passenger flights serve those three destinations and provide underfloor cargo space to Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing and Hangzhou.
“Last year, we succeeded in becoming the world’s third largest international cargo carrier, but there are still areas we have not yet targeted to their full potential,” Ogiermann said on the opening day of the Air Cargo China 2016 exhibition in Shanghai.
“In 2017, we will target areas such as Transpacific, Australia and South America—do not be surprised if you see us becoming a strong player in all these markets in the next nine months.” That expansion also includes the opening of a new European cargo hub in Luxembourg, he added.
Ogiermann noted this expansion is made possible by the steady growth in Qatar Airways’ dedicated freighter fleet, which comprises eight Airbus 330Fs, nine Boeing 777Fs and two 747Fs, with three more aircraft scheduled to be delivered by March 2017.
This growth is in strong contrast to many other airlines’ freight operations, which are shrinking in the face of continued softness in the global cargo market and the underfloor capacity now available in many large twins.
Ogiermann also announced Qatar Airways Cargo will add Halifax (Canada) and New York (JFK) to its freighter network in July 2016 and unveiled QR Live, aimed at the transportation of horses, pets, exotic animals and livestock.
China is a major market for Qatar Airways Cargo, which operates dedicated freighter services to Guangzhou, Shanghai and Hong Kong, while the airline’s passenger flights serve those three destinations and provide underfloor cargo space to Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing and Hangzhou.
“Last year, we succeeded in becoming the world’s third largest international cargo carrier, but there are still areas we have not yet targeted to their full potential,” Ogiermann said on the opening day of the Air Cargo China 2016 exhibition in Shanghai.
“In 2017, we will target areas such as Transpacific, Australia and South America—do not be surprised if you see us becoming a strong player in all these markets in the next nine months.” That expansion also includes the opening of a new European cargo hub in Luxembourg, he added.
Ogiermann noted this expansion is made possible by the steady growth in Qatar Airways’ dedicated freighter fleet, which comprises eight Airbus 330Fs, nine Boeing 777Fs and two 747Fs, with three more aircraft scheduled to be delivered by March 2017.
This growth is in strong contrast to many other airlines’ freight operations, which are shrinking in the face of continued softness in the global cargo market and the underfloor capacity now available in many large twins.
Ogiermann also announced Qatar Airways Cargo will add Halifax (Canada) and New York (JFK) to its freighter network in July 2016 and unveiled QR Live, aimed at the transportation of horses, pets, exotic animals and livestock.
