Qatar Cargo expands Asia network amid global capacity push

Qatar Airways Cargo is expanding its network across Asia, Europe, the Americas, Africa, and the Middle East as the carrier increases freighter and belly-hold capacity in response to trade demand and shifts in global cargo flows. The airline said the network changes will raise its overall cargo capacity by 12 per cent while adding new passenger destinations, restoring suspended routes and increasing frequencies across major trade lanes.

In Asia, the carrier is increasing frequencies and capacity across several cargo markets linked to manufacturing, e-commerce, and perishable trade. Dhaka will increase to 17 weekly passenger flights from 14, providing more than 315 tonnes of weekly cargo capacity each way. Hong Kong will rise to 14 weekly passenger flights from 10, supported by 42 weekly freighter flights offering more than 4,200 tonnes of cargo capacity each way. Total cargo capacity to and from Hong Kong will exceed 4,474 tonnes per week.

Kathmandu will increase to 21 weekly passenger flights from 14, with weekly cargo capacity exceeding 270 tonnes each way. Kuala Lumpur will also increase to 21 weekly passenger flights from 14 effective June 16, supported by three weekly freighter services offering 300 tonnes of cargo capacity each way. Combined weekly capacity on the Kuala Lumpur route will exceed 683 tonnes.

Shanghai will increase to 10 weekly passenger flights from seven starting June 1. The route is supported by eight weekly freighter flights offering 800 tonnes of weekly cargo capacity each way, taking total capacity to more than 985 tonnes weekly. Qatar Airways will also relaunch flights to Tokyo Haneda on July 16 with four weekly passenger services, rising to seven weekly flights from August 1. Initial belly-hold capacity on the route will reach 60 tonnes weekly before increasing to 105 tonnes.

In Europe, the carrier is relaunching freighter operations to Vienna using Boeing 777 freighters on the Doha-Budapest-Vienna-Doha route and adding a second Boeing 777 freighter to Warsaw on the Doha-Budapest-Warsaw-Doha route. Passenger frequencies to Vienna will increase to seven weekly flights from four, while Warsaw freighter frequencies will double from one to two weekly services.

The airline will also relaunch passenger flights to Helsinki on July 15 with four weekly flights, increasing to daily services from August 1. Belly-hold cargo capacity on the Helsinki route will initially total 40 tonnes weekly before rising to 70 tonnes. Istanbul passenger frequencies will increase to 17 weekly flights from 14, supported by two weekly freighter services.

In the Americas, Qatar Airways Cargo will begin passenger services to Caracas, Venezuela, via Bogotá, Colombia, from July 22 with twice-weekly flights. The airline said it will become the first carrier to operate belly-hold flights from the Middle East to Caracas and Bogotá. The new route will provide 20 tonnes of belly-hold cargo capacity each way.

Dallas passenger frequencies will increase to 10 weekly flights from seven, while Houston will rise to five weekly passenger flights from three. Houston is also supported by two weekly freighter services offering 200 tonnes of cargo capacity each way. New York and São Paulo will both increase to 14 weekly passenger flights from 11. São Paulo continues to receive four weekly freighter services with combined cargo capacity exceeding 479 tonnes weekly.

In Africa, the carrier is upgrading Addis Ababa passenger operations from Boeing 787 aircraft to Boeing 777 aircraft, increasing weekly cargo capacity to more than 44 tonnes each way. Tunis will increase to 10 weekly passenger flights from seven, taking weekly cargo capacity beyond 105 tonnes.

Across the Middle East, the airline is increasing frequencies and restoring services to support regional cargo flows. Amman and Beirut will each increase to 14 weekly passenger flights from seven, while Dammam will rise to 21 weekly flights from 14. Baghdad has resumed operations with two weekly wide-body passenger flights supported by one weekly freighter service, while Basra has restarted with four weekly wide-body passenger flights.

Qatar Airways Cargo said the expanded network will strengthen its position at Hamad International Airport in Doha, which serves as the carrier’s cargo hub linking East-West trade corridors. The airline said all cargo products will be available on the expanded network through its Digital Lounge e-booking platform and local sales teams.

The carrier operates a fleet of 30 Boeing 777 freighters alongside more than 230 passenger aircraft, providing belly-hold capacity. Qatar Airways Cargo is also the launch customer for the Boeing 777-8F freighter, which is expected to enter the fleet from 2027.