Qatar Airways has begun freighter services between Amsterdam and the Indian cities of Delhi and Madras through its hub at Doha, using its newly converted A300-600 cargo freighter.

The service began on September 24, Qatar Airways chief executive officer Akbar Al Baker announced at a gala dinner.
“We’re offering three services a week between Delhi and Doha, two between Madras and Doha and four services a week between Amsterdam and Doha,” said Al Baker.

“These services will increase our cargo capacity by more than 750 tonnes per week. We can now offer our customers in India, Europe and the Gulf a significant amount of capacity and the premium service they’ve come to expect from Qatar Airways.”

Al Baker expects that most of the cargo that Qatar Airways will carry on the new services will include apparel, perishables, pharmaceuticals, machinery and heavy oil and gas equipment.

“These new services and the new A300-600 freighter will spearhead our cargo operations during this year. We’re expecting to increase the amount of cargo we’re handling by more than 35 per cent this year,” he said.
In the past six years since the airline was relaunched, Qatar Airways’ cargo division has recorded an annual average growth rate of more than 32 per cent - more than five times the growth rate for global air cargo.

“Qatar Airways will be continuing with our programme of route and fleet expansion during 2003, which will also deliver greater capacity to Qatar Airways cargo customers,” said Al Baker. “By the end of 2005 Qatar Airways will be flying to 60 destinations.”

The airline took delivery of its first converted A300-600 freighter in July, and placed orders for two more freighters of the same kind. Cargo capacity will increase further as the airline has placed orders for A330 and A340 aircraft.