News
Qatar Cargo adds trans-Pacific Macau link
October 26th 2018
Qatar Airways Cargo continues expanding at breakneck speed. Read More » This week, the freight carrier launched its first trans-Pacific route, a two times a week Doha-Macau-Los Angeles-Mexico City-Liege-Doha B777F service.
Macau is Qatar Cargo’s fourth freighter destination in Greater China alongside Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Shanghai. The freight subsidiary also transports belly hold cargo on Qatar Airways passenger flights to seven destinations in Greater China: Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
China and the Americas are key markets for Asia-Pacific and Middle Eastern cargo carriers. Electronics, garments and e-commerce goods are the major commodities exported from Greater China, while imports to the Mainland are primarily consumer goods.
Qatar Airways Chief Officer Cargo, Guillaume Halleux, said: “We have launched our newest freighter destination, Macau, just in time for the holiday season when air freight demand is high and the market is strong. The new services will connect manufacturing industries and exporters from the region to North America directly and quickly, without requiring a stopover at our hub in Doha. The launch of these services demonstrates our commitment to our customers in helping their businesses grow, while also enabling us to expand our presence in these key regions.”
The cargo airline flies a B777F on the new Macau circuitous route, offering 100 tons of cargo capacity on each flight leg. It says it is the second largest cargo carrier in the world with its fleet of 15 B777Fs, eight A330Fs and two B747-8Fs.
Separately, Qatar Airways Group CEO, Akbar Al Baker, was in the headlines again this week when he repeated in interviews in New York that his airline could leave the oneworld alliance next year because he was unhappy with the airline group’s relationships with alliance fellows American Airlines and Qantas Airways.
“In 2013, we joined oneworld. We were invited by American Airlines and British Airways together. Unfortunately, the same airline that invited us is talking against Qatar Airways,” Al Baker said.
Last year, Qatar Airways attempted to purchase equity in American Airlines, but the process was blocked by the U.S. carrier. The Doha-headquartered airline has succeeded in purchasing a 20.01% shareholding in International Airlines Group (IAG), parent of British Airways. It also has acquired a minority shareholding in Cathay Pacific Airways, also a oneworld member.
In other Qatar Airways news, the airline this week announced a third daily Doha-Male service from October 28, which will be operated by A330 and A320 aircraft. The two existing frequencies are A350-900 flights.
