The new freighter services offer significant import capacity into Almaty
DOHA, Qatar, 2019-Jan-23 — /Travel PR News/ — Qatar Airways Cargo has commenced freighter operations to its second new destination in 2019, Almaty in Kazakhstan, offering more than 200 tonnes of capacity each week to the Kazakh city.
The twice-weekly Boeing 777 freighters depart Doha on Thursdays and Sundays, arriving in Almaty on the same day. On the return, the freighters arrive into Doha via Hong Kong.
Qatar Airways Chief Officer Cargo, Mr. Guillaume Halleux, said: “2018 was a great year for us and we are excited to launch our second freighter destination in 2019, just 10 days after the launch of freighter services to Guadalajara, Mexico. The new addition further strengthens our global freighter network while expanding our footprint in Europe, which is a key market for air freight. Customers globally are offered a direct connection for imports into Almaty from our hub in Doha and can count on us for efficient and world-class service for their air freight requirements.”
Almaty is a key financial centre and the largest metropolis in Kazakhstan. Major imports into Almaty include general cargo, fashion and high-tech products.
With the latest addition of Almaty, the cargo carrier’s freighter network in Europe has increased to 16 destinations. Qatar Airways Cargo also transports freight on the belly-hold of passenger flights operating to more than 50 destinations on the continent. The cargo carrier’s combined weekly cargo capacity to and from Europe is more than 15,000 tonnes each way.
Qatar Airways Cargo volumes increased by 10 per cent in 2018 over 2017. The carrier’s products have also performed exceptionally well with positive tonnage growth and several enhancements introduced, such as the roll out of the automated mail management system across its network that greatly benefits postal mail and e-commerce customers.
The carrier added belly-hold cargo capacity to several key destinations in its network and also received two brand new Boeing 777 freighters in 2018 as part of its expansion strategy. Qatar Airways Cargo recently launched freighters to Guadalajara, Mexico on its transpacific route, offering customers in Asia direct connection and capacity to North America.
Notes to Editors:
About Qatar Airways:
Qatar Airways, the national carrier of the State of Qatar, is celebrating more than 20 years of Going Places Together with travellers across its more than 160 business and leisure destinations on board a modern fleet of more than 200 aircraft. The world’s fastest-growing airline added a number of exciting destinations to its growing network including Gothenburg, Sweden; Da Nang, Vietnam; and Mombasa, Kenya in 2018, and several new destinations are due to be launched in 2019, including Isfahan, Iran and Valletta, Malta.
A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was named ‘World’s Best Business Class’ by the 2018 World Airline Awards, managed by international air transport rating organisation Skytrax. It was also named ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’, ‘World’s Best First Class Airline Lounge’ and ‘Best Business Class Seat’, in recognition of its ground-breaking Business Class experience, Qsuite. Qatar Airways has been awarded the coveted “Skytrax Airline of the Year” title, which is recognised as the pinnacle of excellence in the airline industry, four times.
Qsuite, a patented Qatar Airways product, features the industry’s first-ever double bed in Business Class, as well as privacy panels that stow away, allowing passengers in adjoining seats to create their own private room, a first of its kind in the industry.
Qatar Airways was the first Gulf carrier to join global airline alliance oneworld, enabling its passengers to benefit from more than 1,000 airports in more than 150 countries, with 14,250 daily departures.
Oryx One, Qatar Airways’ in-flight entertainment system offers passengers up to 4,000 entertainment options from the latest blockbuster movies, TV box sets, music, games and much more. Passengers flying on Qatar Airways flights served by its B787, B777, A350, A380, A319 and select A320 and A330 aircraft can also stay in touch with their friends and family around the world by using the award-winning airline’s on-board Wi-Fi and GSM service.
Qatar Airways proudly supports a range of exciting international and local initiatives dedicated to enriching the global community that it serves. Qatar Airways, the official FIFA partner, is the official sponsor of many top-level sporting events, including the FIFA 2022 World Cup, reflecting the values of sports as a means of bringing people together, something at the core of the airline’s own brand message – Going Places Together.
Qatar Airways Cargo, one of the world’s leading international air cargo carriers, serves more than 60 freighter destinations worldwide via its world-class Doha hub and also delivers freight to more than 160 key business and leisure destinations globally on more than 200 aircraft. The Qatar Airways Cargo fleet includes two Boeing 747-8 freighters, 15 Boeing 777 freighters and eight Airbus A330 freighters.
For further information, please contact:
Qatar Airways Group, Corporate Communications Department
Tel: +974 4022 2200
Email: qrmedia@qatarairways.com.qa
Source: Qatar Airways
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