Sun City, SOUTH AFRICA – Qatar Airways is preparing the foundation for its new flights to South Africa by taking part in the cargo industry’s premier conference currently underway in Sun City.

More than 2,000 cargo professionals from around the world have converged at the International Federation of Freight Forwarders’ Association World Congress which runs until Thursday.

The trade show, exhibition and conference is seen as a prime opportunity for Qatar Airways to showcase its operations ahead of the January 15 launch of scheduled flights between Doha, the State capital of Qatar, and Johannesburg, commercial capital of South Africa.

Doha is developing as a cargo hub with 80% of freight transiting through the city to other points in the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Asia.

With the growth of Doha as a hub and Qatar Airways’ global network expanding, the airline’s cargo division has seen revenue multiply year on year. Last year alone, cargo revenue rose 77% on the previous 12 months.

“This conference gives us the opportunity to meet suppliers and agents all under one roof,” said Qatar Airways’ newly-appointed senior cargo manager, Robert John Blythe, a 24-year veteran of the cargo industry.

“Qatar Airways is one of the fastest growing freight handling airlines in the world, in line with the tremendous growth of our passenger flights with 53 global destinations now served. This will rise to at least 70 destinations by the end of next year.”

Blythe added that South Africa was a huge cargo market with room for new players like Qatar Airways to take a share of the business.
“Johannesburg is the premier gateway to the African continent – the city hosts every form of commercial activity from financial services to heavy industries and mining,” he said.

”The city generates 16% of South Africa’s GDP and employs 12% of the national workforce so this demonstrates the importance of Johannesburg as a city for trade to and from the region.

“We hope to shortly announce the appointment of a cargo agent to handle our freight business in Johannesburg.”

Earlier this year, Qatar Airways’ cargo division was accredited with the ISO 9001:2000 certification, awarded for customer service and efficiency in airfreight space sales, management, reservations and freight handling.

Of its current fleet of 34 aircraft, Qatar Airways operates one freighter, an Airbus A300/600F acquired last year, with plans to add two more cargo planes by 2007. The airline plans to create a global freighter network which will see Africa become an integral part of the operation.