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Trailblazing the Next Generation of Air Cargo Business

Qatar Airways' expansion of capacity at Doha hub will allow the air carrier to handle more shipments of export cargo and import cargo in international trade.

Trailblazing the Next Generation of Air Cargo Business

With the launch of Next Generation, Qatar Airways Cargo is defining the future air cargo industry. Alongside digital enhancements, new products, a new website, and a new business approach in perfect alignment with today’s requirements, Next Generation is, above all, a complete corporate mindset shift.

The world as we know it is changing. The pandemic has challenged long-serving, traditional structures and work processes. Digitalization is finally taking off within the air cargo industry, and the past two years have shown that resilience, courage, and embracing change yield the best results. These elements have led to the emergence of the Next Generation approach which induces a corporate mindset shift. Thanks to its many dedicated employees across the world, Qatar Airways Cargo demonstrated agility, innovation, and flexibility in the face of this extraordinary period in which the air cargo industry, as a whole, experienced major upheaval. It is this positive disruption within a crisis that Qatar Airways Cargo intends to apply to all aspects of its business.

Qatar Airways Cargo will be unveiling digital enhancements and new products in the course of this year. The Next Generation launch is accompanied by a strong new logo in the airline’s corporate colors. Alongside the already familiar WeQare logo denoting Qatar Airways Cargo’s sustainability initiatives, the Next Generation logo represents the company’s core focus: an unparalleled air cargo mindset. Qatar Airways Cargo is crossing thresholds into a new way of doing business, hence the emphasized X in the word NeXt. This cross also acts as an arrow pointing to the future and to an even higher level of quality and service. With the shift to Next Generation, every Qatar Airways Cargo product has been allocated its own identifying color. These colors are incorporated in the logo whenever the particular product is featured.

Qatar Airways Cargo’s website relaunch is a further visible implementation of Next Generation. The emphasis here is on an intuitive, inviting, and optimal customer experience. In providing visually appealing, precise and clear information and fast navigation, the design responds to modern user requirements. More digital solutions and new products are being developed under the Next Generation strategy.

About Qatar Airways Cargo

Qatar Airways Cargo, the world’s leading international air cargo carrier is based in Doha, State of Qatar. It serves a global network of more than 60 freighter destinations and 150 passenger destinations utilizing freighters, belly-hold passenger flights, passenger freighters and mini freighters. The airline’s freighter fleet includes two Boeing 747-8 freighters, two Boeing 747-400 freighters, 26 Boeing 777 freighters and one Airbus 310 freighter. It also has an extensive road feeder service (RFS) network.

With considerable investments in its products, services, quality handling, infrastructure, facilities, people and procedures at each of its destinations, the cargo carrier provides high operating standards for the transportation of cargo. Qatar Airways Cargo remains committed to sustainability and giving back to communities it serves through its sustainability program WeQare, built on the key pillars of sustainability: environment, society, economy and culture.

 

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Africa and Qatar Airways Cargo Feed the World

From Meat to the Middle East, Fish to the European Union, Avocados to the Far East, and much more, Africa and Qatar Airways Cargo play a key role in putting food on the world’s tables.

Every second shipment that leaves an African airport on board of Qatar Airways Cargo, is headed for the world’s restaurants and supermarkets. Ranging from everyday berries, vegetables, and meat, to the more exotic lobsters, oysters, and abalones, over 37,000 tons of agricultural produce from 26 stations in 20 African countries annually make their way around the globe via Qatar Airways Cargo’s Doha hub.

Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa are the main meat exporters with more than 6 million kilograms of meat travelling predominantly to the Middle East, in 2021. At 5.3 million kilograms in 2021, fish exports are not far behind, with Uganda’s famous Nile perch and South African Hake being the favorites, followed by a delicious seafood mix from Tunisia, Seychelles, Kenya, Egypt, and Tanzania. Right now, the super fruit peak season is under way: blueberries and strawberries from South Africa, Egypt, Zimbabwe, and Zambia are heading to the Far East, Middle East, European Union and the UK, alongside North African watermelon, as well as stone fruits, mangos, pineapples, avocados, and a host of other healthy options. Truffles, too, are regularly shipped to the Middle East.

Speed, hygiene, and temperature-controlled storage are mandatory when it comes to transporting perishables foodstuffs. Hence, all Qatar Airways Cargo’s General Handling Agents across the continent have secure cold room facilities to ensure that the shipments are kept within the usual 2-8°C temperature range before embarking on their journey. Some products are shipped prepacked and ready for the supermarket shelves, whilst others travel in bulk to regional distribution centers. What they all have in common, are the fast connections. Usually harvested and processed just the day before their flight – in some cases even on the same day – these perishable shipments arrive at their destinations a day later, with tail-to-tail transit times as short as 90 minutes in some cases.

With 60% of its population involved in agriculture, in an industry that has an export worth of around USD 52 billion, food exports play an important role in the continent’s economies. Plus, with 65% of the world’s remaining uncultivated, arable land located in Africa, the continent has the potential to become the world’s breadbasket.

About Qatar Airways Cargo

Qatar Airways Cargo, the world’s leading international air cargo carrier is based in Doha, State of Qatar. It serves a global network of more than 60 freighter destinations and 140 passenger destinations utilizing freighters, belly-hold passenger flights, passenger freighters and mini freighters. The airline’s freighter fleet includes two Boeing 747-8 freighters, two Boeing 747-400 freighters, 26 Boeing 777 freighters and one Airbus 310 freighter. It also has an extensive road feeder service (RFS) network.

With considerable investments in its products, services, quality handling, infrastructure, facilities, people and procedures at each of its destinations, the cargo carrier provides high operating standards for the transportation of cargo. Qatar Airways Cargo remains committed to sustainability and giving back to communities it serves through its sustainability program WeQare, built on the key pillars of sustainability: environment, society, economy and culture.

cargoai donation Qatar Airways Cargo Teams Up with Cainiao to Launch a Weekly Charter Flight Linking China and Brazil

Qatar Airways Cargo Announces Chapter 3 of WeQare “Let’s Stand Together”

Qatar Airways Cargo continues its commitment by launching Chapter 3 of its WeQare program, “Let’s Stand Together”. Chapter 3 involves a big donation drive that seeks to gather donations in kind for children, from April 26 to May 10 2022.

Commitment, care and charity means a lot to Qatar Airways Cargo. The success of the first two chapters of the WeQare program demonstrated it very well. Chapter 1, “One Million Kilos” launched in July 2020 led the way by providing the free transport of 1 million kilos of humanitarian aid and medical equipment to charitable organizations. As for Chapter 2, “Rewild the Planet”, Qatar Airways Cargo committed to preserve wildlife and endangered animals and to transport them back to their natural habitat free of charge.

Aware of the importance of perpetuating this solidarity, the cargo carrier announced Chapter 3, Let’s Stand Together. Through this new chapter, Qatar Airways Cargo wants to convey the idea that together we can achieve great things. For this chapter, the company is organizing a collection of in kind donations for children. The donation drive focuses on three aspects: education, sports and fun. Thus, Qatar Airways Cargo is collecting study material (books, school bags, pencils), clothes and sports items (socks, soccer balls, sneakers, jerseys) as well as toys, musical instruments and board games. Any donation for children is welcome, as long as it is clean, in good condition and without batteries.

The collection of the donations is rolled out worldwide, and open for business partners, friends, families and anyone who is willing to participate in this great movement of solidarity that will last until May 10, 2022. To collect all the donations, each station of the company has its own collection point, where people can drop off their donations. Qatar Airways Cargo has also opened six donation collection points for its employees, as well as a public collection point in Doha.

The donations will be sent in by Qatar Airways Cargo global offices to its hub in Doha where a massive sorting activity will take place on 17 May, following which the donations will be sent all over the world. In line with its commitment to sustainability,  Qatar Airways Cargo will also offset the CO2 emissions of the donated items.

For children to remain children, Let’s Stand Together, because #WeQare.

About Qatar Airways Cargo

Qatar Airways Cargo, the world’s leading international air cargo carrier is based in Doha, State of Qatar. It serves a global network of more than 60 freighter destinations and 150 passenger destinations utilising freighters, belly-hold passenger flights, passenger freighters and mini freighters. The airline’s freighter fleet includes two Boeing 747-8 freighters, two Boeing 747-4 freighters, 26 Boeing 777 freighters, two Airbus A330 freighters and one Airbus A310 freighter. It also has an extensive road feeder service (RFS) network.

With considerable investments in its products, services, quality handling, infrastructure, facilities, people and procedures at each of its destinations, the cargo carrier provides high operating standards for the transportation of cargo. Qatar Airways Cargo remains committed to sustainability and giving back to communities it serves through its sustainability program WeQare, built on the key pillars of sustainability: environment, society, economy and culture.

cargoai donation Qatar Airways Cargo Teams Up with Cainiao to Launch a Weekly Charter Flight Linking China and Brazil

Qatar Airways Cargo is a Thoroughbred in Horse Transport

Qatar Airways Cargo safely transported 190 of the world’s finest horses to and from equestrian events in Qatar and Saudi Arabia recently

Due to the Amir Sword Festival in Doha (17-19 February), the Saudi Cup in Riyadh (25-26 February), the Commercial Bank CHI AL SHAQAB  presented by Longines in Doha (24-26 February), and the Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) in Doha (3-5 March), Qatar Airways Cargo carried 190 of the world’s fastest racehorses and finest show jumping and dressage horses on its freighters over the past few weeks.

The prestigious HH The Amir Sword Festival, hailed as the high point in the Qatar equestrian racing calendar, attracts thoroughbreds and pure Arabian horses from all over the world, in competition to win the USD 4.34 million in prize money. The horses transported by Qatar Airways Cargo originate in Ireland, the United Kingdom and France. Those horses competing in the CHI AL SHAQAB and LGCT, on the other hand, come from all over Europe. Qatar Airways Cargo coordinates their transport together with specialiszd horse agents in Europe and Qatar. They travel via the Horse Inn at Liège Airport (LGG), which sees much of Europe’s horse traffic and Hamad International Airport (DOH). In total, three full horse charters flew from LGG to DOH: two on 19 February and one on 20 February.

The Saudi Cup preparations were a little more complex since they involved arranging a double pick-up from the USA. Between 14-16 February, Qatar Airways Cargo flew first to Los Angeles (LAX) to pick up four horses, and from there on to Miami (MIA), to collect another eight and fly them all to Riyadh (RUH), Saudi Arabia. Two days later, on 18 February, 14 horses were flown from Osaka Airport (KIX) in Japan, to Riyadh, also for the Saudi Cup.

“Every horse transport requires meticulous advance planning and coordination with the customers, the specialized freight forwarders, and the respective airport facilities. We take great pains to ensure that the animals entrusted to our care have as stress-free a journey as possible, naturally in line with all animal transport regulations. Alongside state-of-the-art horse stalls, and seats for the grooms on board our freighters, we also ensure that the distance to the aircraft from the airport animal facility, as well as the waiting times are as short as possible,” Guillaume Halleux, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways explained. “Race-horses often have a very high value, and they are shipped three to seven days prior to the event in order to be at peak fitness on the race day. We are well versed in dealing with this precious cargo. Horses meanwhile make up around 35% of all our QR Live animal shipments, and we are one of the main horse transportation carriers in the world.”

All horses were safely returned to their countries, on board three charter flights from Doha to Liège on 28 February, 6 and 7 March, respectively.

Qatar Airways Cargo is the fourth airline worldwide, and the first Middle Eastern carrier to be awarded the IATA CEIV Live Animals certification in January this year. The airline has in-depth experience in transporting horses and world-class thoroughbreds and is a long-standing sponsor of HH The Amir Sword Festival and partner of the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC).

About Qatar Airways Cargo

Qatar Airways Cargo, the world’s leading international air cargo carrier is based in Doha, State of Qatar. It serves a global network of more than 60 freighter destinations and 140 passenger destinations utilising freighters, belly-hold passenger flights, passenger freighters and mini freighters. The airline’s freighter fleet includes two Boeing 747-8 freighters, two Boeing 747-4 freighters, 26 Boeing 777 freighters, one Airbus A330 freighter, one Airbus A310 freighter and one Boeing 777-300ER mini freighter. It also has an extensive road feeder service (RFS) network.

With considerable investments in its products, services, quality handling, infrastructure, facilities, people and procedures at each of its destinations, the cargo carrier provides high operating standards for the transportation of cargo. Qatar Airways Cargo remains committed to sustainability and giving back to communities it serves through its sustainability programme WeQare, built on the key pillars of sustainability: environment, society, economy and culture.

 

EFL Selects Pittsburgh Airport for Cargo Distribution Point

Pittsburgh International Airport has been confirmed as the airport of choice by EFL – a Sri Lanka freight forwarder and Qatar Airways customer. EFL announced the utilization of Qatar Airways Cargo’s nonstop service, specifically through one of the two weekly Boeing 777 freighters Qatar currently operates, following its first successful 90-ton shipment in May.

“Today’s announcement continues moving the airport corridor forward as a manufacturing and distribution hub. Congratulations to Christina and her team for this huge success for our region. As Pittsburgh strives to make additional connections to the global marketplace, this is a big step along that path,” said Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald.

“The success of Qatar Airways, and the partnership with EFL, strengthens our ability to attract manufacturing and distribution to the airport. We are planting the seeds for manufacturing, distribution, logistics and connectivity in the global marketplace. We are excited to see it bear much fruit in the years to come, and to see the growth of jobs in these areas continue.”

A combination of proximity to major air cargo markets and cities positions Pittsburgh International Airport as an ideal choice for global freight forwarders. The Qatar Airways Cargo flights to Pittsburgh contribute to a total of 265 jobs and $42.8 million of economic output. Qatar Airways’ Pittsburgh-based flights represent the first scheduled international freighter route for the airport.

“Our goal is to build Pittsburgh into an international logistics center and with great partners like Qatar Airways Cargo and EFL, that goal is becoming a reality,” Pittsburgh International Airport CEO Christina Cassotis said. “This is cargo that used to enter into the U.S. through major airports such as New York and Chicago but instead they’re choosing to use our region as a gateway. That means jobs and business for our region.”

The addition of EFL serves as another example of how the airport’s gateway maintains competitive advantage through efficient and reliable global supply chain solutions in combination with the exemplary operations of Qatar Airways Cargo, including a 72-hour transit time from the Asia-Pacific region to U.S. regional and distribution centers.

“At EFL, it has been a constant pursuit to find efficient and innovative solutions for our customers, which has led us to this initiative with Qatar Airways Cargo, with who we have a relationship for over a decade,” added EFL’s Group Chief Executive Officer Senthil Shanmugam. “Considering EFL’s spread of seven offices in the USA, (with) five of them in (the) East Coast and Midwest, having a gateway that is accessible to these regions was important. Pittsburgh is a logical location for this operation as it allows us to have a fast turnover of cargo in comparison to more traditional and congested gateways. We’re grateful to the Allegheny County Airport Authority for assisting us with facilitating this effort.”