With the addition of three new freighters to its growing fleet, Qatar Airways hopes to conquer the transpacific, Australian and South American markets - all in the next nine months. As well as welcoming three new recruits to the fleet, the ambitious project is also helped by the opening of the airline’s new European hub in Luxembourg.
Now the world’s third largest international carrier, the airline’s vast fleet includes nine Boeing 777F, eight Airbus 3330F and two B747F aircraft. Ogiermann predicted that Qatar’s pure cargo fleet will grow to 22 aircraft by 2017 and from July 1, it will double its flights into and out of Luxembourg. There are also plans to add Halifax, Canada, and New York’s JFK to its freighter network from July, Ogiermann added.
“Last year, we succeeded in becoming the world’s third largest international cargo carrier, but there are still areas we have not yet targeted to their full potential,” he explained. "In 2017, we will target areas such as transpacific, Australia and South America – do not be surprised if you see us becoming a strong player in all these markets in the next nine months.”
The conference was also the platform of choice for the official launch of the carrier’s QR Live service, which provides transportation for all manner of animals including horses, domesticated pets, exotic animals and livestock. The carrier boasts a 4,200 square metre air-conditioned live animal facility at Hamad International airport and also has eight stalls for horses, a 24-hour animal healthcare service, a 300 square metre paddock and hydraulic loading and unloading docks on its list of merits.
