Page 11 - STAT October 2023 for Magzter only

atar Airways Cargo completes Global air cargo “Market conditions are what they are
20 years of freighter op- and everyone can see that. We are here
erations in 2023. Years before market conditions for long term. Global air cargo market
Qthe launch of its freighter conditions are very challenging at the mo-
operations, Qatar Airways launched its are very challenging ment and there is nothing that you can do
cargo division as part of the company at the moment and to change them. But with the enormous
revamp in 1997 with a team of five cargo network that we have, we are being very
staff. They sold cargo space on leased there is nothing that creative with the capacity and working
passenger planes. From one Airbus hard to perform better than the market,”
A300-600 converted freighter in 2003 to a you can do to change said Oudkerk who has been holding the
fleet of 31 freighters in 2023, the Doha- them. But with the fort at Qatar Airways Cargo since the de-
headquartered carrier continues to be the parture of Guillaume Halleux, chief officer
world’s largest cargo carrier since 2019. enormous network that cargo, in mid-August this year.
Qatar Airways began regular operations With the launch of its Next Generation
to Amsterdam and Chennai, and shortly we have, we are being strategy, Qatar Airways Cargo has defined
thereafter to New Delhi. very creative with the its role in the air cargo industry by bring-
Today, the cargo airline operates more ing a fresh and innovative approach to
than 160 belly-hold and over 70 freighter capacity and working business across its network and opera-
destinations. The airline’s freighter fleet tions through enhanced products and
includes two Boeing 747-8 freighters, two hard to perform better services, cutting-edge technology, a com-
Boeing 747-400 freighters, 26 Boeing 777 than the market. mitment to sustainability and diversity.
freighters and one Airbus A310 freighter. It With the Next Generation strategy, Qatar
also has an extensive road feeder service Elisabeth Oudkerk Airways Cargo has managed to achieve a
(RFS) network. With considerable invest- Qatar Airways Cargo few milestones that include the first airline
ments in its products, services, quality globally to complete the suite of IATA
handling, infrastructure, facilities, people As per the latest available world air CEIV certifications, the launch of the Kigali
and procedures at each of its destinations, transport statistics data from International Africa hub in partnership with RwandAir,
the cargo carrier provides high operating Air Transport Association (IATA), in 2022 Qa- and the introduction of innovative prod-
standards for the transportation of cargo. tar Airways recorded 15,889 million cargo ucts like Pharma, Fresh, Courier, SecureLift
tonne kilometers (CTK) making itself the and the re-launch of its Mail product with
largest cargo carrier in the world among key enhancements.
combinations carriers. However, in 2022 In the recent past, Qatar Airways an-
it ranked third behind Federal Express nounced a number of important long
(FedEx) and United Parcel Service (UPS). term strategic partnerships with shippers
But in 2021, there was only FedEx ahead of and forwarders to lock in long term capac-
Qatar Airways. In the combination carrier ity arrangements.
ranking its closest rivals include Emirates The one with global freight forwarder
and Korean Air. DSV creates direct scheduled service
“We take immense pride in our his- between Huntsville in the US and Doha
tory and anticipate offering 200 tonnes of capacity per week.
contributing to the The new air charter route, named Gateway
promising future of air Star, departs from Mexico City to Doha via
freight,” said Elisabeth the strategic hubs of Huntsville and Lux-
Oudkerk, Senior Vice- embourg. This route also has the potential
President, Cargo Sales to extend beyond Doha by seamlessly
and Network Planning at integrating with Qatar Airways Cargo's
Qatar Airways. Oudkerk, global feeder network and becoming a
who completes an year in pathway to other destinations. This col-
Qatar Airways in September laboration introduces bi-weekly flights
2023, is thrilled to be part of with direct cargo loading and manage-
the historical moment despite ment handled by DSV, and full commit-
the headwinds in ment and lift by Qatar Airways Cargo.
the global air “With the addition of Huntsville, Qatar
cargo market. Airways Cargo’s network in the Ameri-
cas now increases to 22 destinations,”
said Oudkerk.

www.stattimes.com | OCTOBER 2023 9