Summary
- Qatar Airways Cargo has expanded its reach in the Chinese market by adding Chengdu and Chongqing as new destinations.
- With the addition of these routes, Qatar Airways Cargo now offers over 2,700 tonnes of cargo capacity each week in Mainland China.
- The cargo carrier has also recently partnered with Xiamen Airlines, which allows them to utilize additional cargo capacity on flights between China and Qatar.
Qatar Airways Cargo, a subsidiary of Qatar Airways, announced further expansion in the Chinese market as it now connects Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH) with Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU) and Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport (CKG). The new air cargo routes are flown using an Airbus A330-300F by the world’s second-largest air cargo airline by air freight volume. The announcement also comes in the week Qatar Airways Cargo celebrates its 20th birthday.
Humble beginnings
In 2003, Qatar Airways Cargo took delivery of its first freighter aircraft, an Airbus A300-600, a converted passenger aircraft. The plane initially started operating regular flights to Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) and Chennai (MAA) before adding service to New Delhi (DEL). Just 20 years later, the cargo wing of Qatar Airways operates 31 dedicated cargo freighters ranging from the Boeing 747-8F to the Boeing 777F and serves over 160 belly-hold and over 70 freighter destinations across the globe.
Photo: Matheus Obst / Shutterstock
Since its inception, Qatar Airways Cargo has made strides in growing its capabilities and reach worldwide to create an international point-to-point air freight network. Over the past year, this has been especially prevalent as the cargo airline has expanded its reach in the Americas, Africa, and the Far East.
Chinese Expansion
As such, Qatar Airways Cargo has introduced two new destinations in the Chinese market: Chengdu and Chongqing. The cargo carrier commenced belly-hold flights to Chengdu and Chongqing on September 23 and 25, respectively. Both flights will be operated by an Airbus A330-300 and be served three times a week.
The two new routes complement Qatar Airways Cargo’s extensive route network across Mainland China, which includes Beijing (PEK), Guangzhou (CAN), Shanghai (PVG), Shenzhen (SZX), Hangzhou (HGH), and Zhengzhou (CGO). They now offer a combined weekly cargo capacity of over 2,700 tonnes each way. As Elisabeth Oudkerk, SVP of Cargo Sales and Network Planning, said in a statement:
“Qatar Airways Cargo has been serving the Chinese market since October 2003, when it first started belly-hold flights to Shanghai. We are pleased to expand our network in Mainland China with these new destinations and offer our customers direct belly hold capacity for their imports and exports out of these key markets.”
The two new routes will primarily operate as export-oriented markets and provide a weekly capacity of 84 tonnes of cargo each way. Flights to Chongqing and Chengdu will haul perishables, general cargo, fish, and seafood, while the return leg will haul vulnerable/tech cargo back to Qatar. The strategic expansion in China will play a vital role in facilitating international trade and connecting China with the rest of the world.
New partnership
Qatar Airways Cargo’s Chinese expansion comes just a week after announcing a new partnership with Xiamen Airlines, which will be the first Chinese airline to operate non-stop passenger flights between Qatar and Mainland China. The Chinese carrier will connect Doha with Beijing and Xiamen (XMN) beginning October 20th and 31st.
The new partnership will allow Qatar Airways Cargo to utilize the belly-hold cargo capacity on Xiamen Airlines flights between China and Qatar. The nine weekly flights operated by Xiamen Airlines will offer 100 tonnes of cargo capacity that Qatar Airways Cargo will be able to use.