Qatar Cargo to launch freighter service to Japan

Qatar Cargo will enter the Japanese market with a new freighter service to Kansai International Airport in Osaka.

The scheduled service will operate twice per week, operating on a loop of Doha, Kansai and Hong Kong.

It will utilise one of the airline’s Boeing 777 freighters, with a capacity of just over 100 tonnes, arriving at the Japanese airport on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Qatar Airways chief officer cargo, Guillaume Halleux said: “2019 has been a great year for Qatar Airways Cargo and we are glad to start 2020 with the announcement of freighters to Osaka, a major financial centre in Japan.

“Japan is an important part of our network where we already operate daily passenger flights to both Haneda and Narita airports in the capital city, Tokyo. With direct flights to Osaka, our customers are offered dedicated freighter capacity for their cargo to and from Japan.”

Qatar Airways Cargo currently offers more than 250 tonnes of belly-hold cargo capacity each way to Haneda and Narita airports in Tokyo per week.

General cargo, hi-tech goods, electronics, pharmaceuticals and perishables will form the majority of exports and imports on the new route.

Overnight truck routes are available connecting Osaka with Tokyo Haneda, Tokyo Narita and Nagoya Chubu, six days a week.

The service will start on January 15.

The airline is also scheduled to relaunch its passenger services between Kansia and Doha in April 2020 for the first time in four years.

“Kansai Airports will continue to expand its cargo carrier network for greater convenience of cargo owners and freighters while striving to contribute to the economic development of Kansai and destination cities,” the airport operator said in a press release.

The airline is set to add five more B777 freighters in 2020, with the first of the order due to be delivered in April.