Doha, QATAR – Qatar Airways Cargo is adding yet another freighter service to its network with the launch of non-stop flights between the airline’s operational hub of Doha and Sialkot in north east Pakistan.
The new service, which begins tomorrow – October 27 – will operate every Monday using an Airbus A300-600 freighter and will capitalise on the city’s strong reputation for exporting high quality medical, sporting and leather goods.
Additionally, Sialkot, which is in Pakistan’s Punjab province and is one of the country’s most populated cities, is also famous for producing and exporting textiles due to its close proximity to Kashmir.
With such a high volume of products being exported from the city, Qatar Airways Cargo – the freighter arm of leading five-star airline Qatar Airways – saw the huge potential in operating a direct cargo service into Sialkot District, of which Sialkot is the capital city.
The addition of this new route takes the freighter network of Qatar Airways Cargo up to 20 destinations worldwide, including Lahore and Karachi in Pakistan. Other destinations from Doha are Algiers, Amsterdam, Bahrain, Chennai, Colombo, Dhaka, Dubai, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Khartoum, Luxembourg, Milan, Nairobi, Sanaa, Tunis and Zaragoza.
Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker explained that with impressive growth of the passenger business over the years, there was now a concerted effort to build the airline’s cargo operations.
“This is the second new freighter service launched by Qatar Airways Cargo in the space of just two months having begun cargo flights to the Spanish city of Zaragoza in September,” he said.
“We now have plans to grow the number of freighters operated by Qatar Airways which will allow us to carry on adding to what is an already impressive international cargo network.
“We have a strong commitment to strengthen our cargo network as we explore diverse and exciting cities such as Sialkot, which has an established export business in the textile, surgical and sporting goods industries. Sialkot is a perfect addition to the airline’s already strong Pakistan network, where we have two other cargo and four passenger routes.”
The Doha – Sialkot schedule, effective 27 October is:-
Depart Doha International Airport
Every Monday QR6336 at 1020 hrs, arrive in Sialkot at 1650 hrs
Depart Sialkot International Airport
Every Monday QR6337 at 1820 hrs, arrive in Doha at 1935 hrs
About Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways, the national carrier of the State of Qatar, is proud to be Going Places Together with travellers across its more than 150 business and leisure destinations.
A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways has been awarded World’s Best Airline, World's Best Business Class; Best Business Class Airline Lounge and Best Airline Staff Service in the Middle East by international air transport rating organisation Skytrax.
Qatar Airways was the first Gulf carrier to join global airline alliance, oneworld, enabling its passengers to benefit from more than 1,000 airports in more than 150 countries.
Oryx One, Qatar Airways’ in-flight entertainment system offers passengers up to 3,000 entertainment options from the latest blockbuster movies, TV box sets, music, games and much more. Passengers flying on Qatar Airways flights served by its B787, A350, A380, A319 and select A320 and A330 aircraft can also stay in touch with their friends and family around the world by using the award-winning airline’s on-board Wi-Fi and GSM service.
Qatar Airways proudly supports a range of exciting international and local initiatives dedicated to enriching the global community that it serves. Qatar Airways sponsors world-leading sports teams including FC Barcelona and Al-Ahli Saudi Arabia FC reflecting the values of sports as a means of bringing people together, something at the core of the airline’s own brand message – Going Places Together.
Qatar Airways Cargo, the world’s third largest international cargo carrier, serves more than 50 exclusive freighter destinations worldwide via its Doha hub and also delivers freight to more than 150 key business and leisure destinations globally