Qatar Airways Cargo and Martinair to Discontinue Select Freight Routes in Latin America
Martinair from the Netherlands and Qatar Airways Cargo are set to terminate several of their freighter services to Latin America, focusing instead on reallocating resources to more lucrative markets. This strategic adjustment reflects shifts in global freight demand and market dynamics, as reported by CargoForwarder Global.
Martinair will cease its thrice-weekly Boeing 747-400(F) service to São Paulo Viracopos, which currently extends to Buenos Aires Ministro Pistarini and Santiago de Chile, effective September 19, 2024. The Air France-KLM subsidiary will instead launch a new route to Hong Kong International, capitalizing on the burgeoning e-commerce market and the region’s demand for efficient and reliable air freight solutions. However, Martinair will maintain its three-times-a-week operations to Bogotá, routing through Miami International.
Adriaan den Heijer, Martinair’s managing director, highlighted the strategic pivot towards Hong Kong, emphasizing the growth opportunities presented by the e-commerce sector and the necessity for dependable air freight services.
Simultaneously, Qatar Airways Cargo plans to suspend its Boeing 777-200F services from Doha to both Santiago de Chile and São Paulo Viracopos later this year. The carrier, however, will continue its operations to Bogotá, Quito International, and São Paulo Guarulhos. In a statement, Qatar Airways Cargo indicated that the adjustments are driven by customer and market demands, prompting the airline to increase frequencies to other key destinations including India, China, Vietnam, and Europe.
These route adjustments by Martinair and Qatar Airways Cargo are indicative of the airlines’ responses to global market trends and their efforts to optimize operations by concentrating on high-demand areas. Both carriers are actively adapting to changing market conditions to better serve their global clientele.
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com