Qatar Airways Cargo has launched new freighter services to New York (JFK) and Halifax, Nova Scotia (Canada), adding to its growing network of 54 dedicated cargo routes.
Qatar Airways Cargo is the world’s third largest international cargo carrier.
Services to New York and Halifax are scheduled with a frequency of one flight per week every Wednesday from Luxembourg, its new European hub, operated with a Boeing 777-200 freighter that offers 103 tonnes of cargo capacity.
In addition to regular cargo goods, these new flights will allow Qatar Airways Cargo to facilitate the transport of lobster and seafood, major exports from both cities, to Europe, the Middle East, South and North East Asia via Doha, the carrier has said in a statement.
The new cargo service complements existing belly-hold cargo on the airline’s commercial flights, which was recently doubled. “Increasing passenger demand” to America’s financial centre, New York (JFK), prompted Qatar Airways to add a second daily service with an Airbus A350 XWB to the city from March 1 this year, the statement noted.
The airline has served the city daily since the initial route launch in 2007 with a Boeing 777 aircraft. The double-daily passenger flights to New York (JFK) currently offer 125 tonnes of belly-hold cargo capacity each week.
The commencement of a service to Halifax will increase Qatar Airways’ presence in Canada, creating jobs in its cargo operations in Halifax, the airline has stressed. The carrier also operates three passenger flights weekly from Montreal to Hamad International Airport, and has offices in Montreal (Quebec) and Toronto (Ontario).
Qatar Airways chief officer (cargo) Ulrich Ogiermann said, “We are very happy to add New York and Halifax to our growing list of new freighter routes. From their strategic geographical positions, not only will the new service provide our customers with great access to the Americas’ marketplace, it will allow us to share one of region’s most sumptuous exports with the world.”
Qatar Airways Cargo recently took delivery of its 10th Boeing 777F, taking the total count of freighters in operation to 20.