Qatar Airways to begin first dedicated freighter operation to US

Qatar Airways Cargo will begin scheduled freighter services to Chicago, Ill. - its first dedicated freighter operation to the US - from Aug. 18.

The new twice-weekly services will be operated with Qatar Airways' new Boeing 777 freighters and will fly from the airline's hub in Doha via Amsterdam. Payloads on the new services will be up to 100 tonnes per flight and are expected to include freight items such as machinery, textiles, auto parts, fruit and vegetables and general cargo.

Chicago is the airline's first dedicated freighter destination in the US and the airline's fourth destination, following passenger and cargo services to New York, Washington D.C. and Houston.

In the past three months, Qatar Airways Cargo has significantly ramped up its expansion with the recent introduction of two brand new Boeing 777 freighters adding capacity to the airline's dedicated cargo network. A third Boeing 777 freighter will join the airline's cargo fleet in 2011.

Qatar Airways Group CEO Akbar Al Baker said the airline's first dedicated cargo route to the US was a milestone achievement.

"With the recent introduction of Boeing 777 freighters into our cargo fleet, we've wasted no time in developing new markets, and we're especially pleased to be launching our first US cargo route to Chicago O'Hare, the busiest airport in the world," Baker said. "Qatar Airways Cargo operation is expanding exponentially and our focus on increasing our network means we are always finding new customers and offering existing customers more options and convenience."

New freighter operations have recently commenced to Hong Kong, Mumbai, Cairo, Kolkata and Riyadh, with increases in frequency also planned.