Qatar Airways Cargo to fly B777s into new South American cities

Dec 2, 2019: Qatar Airways Cargo has announced a major expansion into the South American continent, with four new services to begin from January 2020.

The Doha-based airline will fly scheduled services to Campinas, Brazil (VCP), Santiago, Chile (SCL), Lima, Peru (LIM) and Bogotá, Colombia (BOG) from January 16, 2020 on a Boeing 777 freighter.

“Air cargo is a crucial element in the global transport system that supports international trade and the free flow of goods around the world. The addition of these four new routes in South America further reinforces our position as one of the world’s leading air cargo providers, operating one of the largest networks in the world with the youngest and most environmentally efficient fleet in the industry,” said Akbar Al Baker, chief executive, Qatar Airways.

The twice-weekly flights to Bogotá from Doha will operate via Luxembourg and Miami, while the service from Bogotá to Doha will operate via Liège, offering 200 tonnes on each leg. The twice-weekly flights to Campinas from Doha will operate via Luxembourg with the service from Campinas to Doha, operating via Santiago, Lima, Dallas and Luxembourg, also offering 200 tonnes on each leg.

The airline will transport general cargo, pharmaceuticals, and perishables as a majority of goods imported and exported to and from South America along with some movements of live animals and high-value items like telecommunication equipment, electronics and other valuable cargo.

Qatar Airways Cargo received its 21st brand new Boeing 777 freighter on November 25, which took its freighter fleet to 28 aircraft. The airline also has an order for five additional Boeing 777 freighters, placed at the Paris Air Show 2019, with deliveries starting from April 2020 onwards.

“We are very excited about our expansion in South America. The Americas are a very important market for us and there is a huge demand for South American fresh produce in Asia. With the introduction of our twice-weekly Boeing 777 freighter services, we offer exporters in South America a direct route for their cargo and a global network. Importers also stand to gain from the huge capacity to bring in their cargo to South America,” said Guillaume Halleux, chief officer cargo, Qatar Airways.

The airline currently operates 18 freighter and 13 belly-hold cargo destinations in The Americas. The carrier recently completed a year of successful transpacific operations, now operating four-times weekly freighters direct from Asia to North America.