Qatar Airways Cargo has announced it will launch a new freighter route to Dallas/Fort Worth commencing operations on January 19, 2016.

The development increases the carrier’s network to six freighter destinations in the Americas. A Qatar Airways Cargo Boeing 777F will fly two times a week to Dallas from Liege.

In total Qatar Airways Cargo provides service to 13 destinations in the Americas, with additional upload provided in the belly hold of the airline’s commercial aircraft.

The new dedicated freighter service to Dallas will increase the 400 tons of export cargo capacity per month, currently transported as belly hold cargo on Qatar Airways’ passenger services, to 1,000 tons. Import capacity into Dallas will increase to a total of 300 tons per month.

“We are delighted to start 2016 with the addition of Dallas/Fort Worth to our network,” said Ulrich Ogiermann, Qatar Airways chief cargo officer. “This is just the beginning of our expansion plans for this year, which will see both our network and our fleet growing in size and strength.

“The U.S. is a very important market for Qatar Airways Cargo,” he added, “and Dallas/Fort Worth is strategically well placed to give us further reach into the region.”

“This addition to our air cargo network is a reflection of the strength of the Dallas/Fort Worth market,” said John Ackerman, Executive Vice President Global Strategy and Development for Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. “Cargo and logistics are strategic priorities, and will continue to help our airport grow and create economic benefits for the Dallas/Fort Worth region.”

Qatar Airways Cargo new Dallas/Fort Worth is targeting the defense, financial services, information technology, life sciences, semiconductors, telecommunications, and transportation industries.