Qatar Airways Expands Cargo Operations in China
Qatar Airways is strengthening its cargo footprint in China with additional flights and a new logistics partnership as demand in the region continues to grow. Chief Commercial Officer Thierry Antinori announced on Bloomberg TV during the Goldman Sachs Asia Leaders Conference in Hong Kong on September 4 that the airline will add a second daily service between Doha Hamad International and Shanghai Pudong this IATA winter after securing extra traffic rights.
Antinori also said Qatar Airways expects to finalize a strategic partnership with Chinese logistics giant Cainiao to enhance freight connections between southern China, Europe and Latin America. The agreement would bolster the carrier’s already extensive presence in the region and support the flow of e-commerce shipments.
Qatar Airways currently serves six Chinese cities and operates 37 weekly cargo flights to Hong Kong International and nine to Macau International. “We are the second-largest cargo airline in the Greater Bay Area,” Antinori said, highlighting China’s importance as Asia’s largest economy. Overall, the airline flies to 90 destinations across Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.
While Antinori noted that cargo demand remains more volatile than passenger traffic, Qatar Airways is managing the market with its 28 dedicated freighters and flexible deployment strategy. According to ch-aviation data, its fleet includes twenty-eight Boeing 777-200Fs, with thirty-four Boeing 777-8Fs on order.
He added that the China growth plans align with Qatar Airways’ Vision 2030 strategy and global expansion, which recently included Australian antitrust approval for its 25% stake in Virgin Australia.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com