All dressed up: Qatar Airways Cargo’s first freighter charter to Rickenbacker

Qatar Airways Cargo has shipped more than 100 tonnes of garments to the US in the Middle East carrier’s first charter service to Rickenbacker International Airport in Colombus, Ohio.
The consignment, in collaboration with Sri Lanka-based EFL (Expo Freight), was flown on a Boeing 777 freighter from Colombo to Rickenbacker for L Brands, the Fortune 500-listed US fashion retailer. 
Qatar Airways’ chief officer cargo, Ulrich Ogiermann, said: “Our extensive cargo network, young and modern fleet of 20 freighters and our expertise in freight charters are the competitive advantages that enable us to customise our connectivity and services to most of the airports in the world.
"With the current five times daily belly flights and twice weekly Airbus A330 freighters to and from Colombo, Sri Lanka, apparel and local industries in the country are offered more capacity, including quick and efficient connections to key trade markets in Europe and the Americas via our Doha hub.”
Hanif Yusoof, founder and chairman at EFL, said: "This serves as a great example of logistic providers and airlines working together to tailor solutions that benefit supply chain customers. We look forward to increasing our engagement with carriers and customers, developing more customised solutions that are both timely and effective.”
Irshad Razack, head of global airfreight at EFL, continued: “We would like to thank Qatar Airways Cargo team for arranging the first-ever charter to Rickenbacker International Airport. The longstanding mutual relationship between both stakeholders closer to a decade has paved the way to achieve this milestone.”
The apparel industry is the most significant and dynamic contributor to Sri Lanka’s economy and is the primary foreign exchange earner, accounting for 40% of the country’s total exports. 
Through its twice weekly Airbus A330 freighters and five times daily flights out of Colombo, Qatar Airways offers in excess of 460 tonnes of cargo capacity from Sri Lanka each week, connecting with major import markets in Europe and the Americas via Doha.
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