Qatar Airways Cargo has taken delivery of its first Boeing B747 freighter, which adds to its fleet of Boeing B777 and Airbus A330 freighters. The addition of the 747-400BCF heavy cargo aircraft, and its 112.5 tonne capacity, will enable Qatar Airways Cargo to satisfy growing demand for outsized freight transportation from customers investing in significant infrastructure projects in the Middle East and throughout the world.
Qatar Airways Chief Officer Cargo, Ulrich Ogiermann said: “A dedicated charter aircraft will enable Qatar Airways Cargo to satisfy growing demand from our customers for capacity in the ad-hoc charter market. Qatar Airways Cargo continues to grow: we have achieved our status as the world’s fifth largest cargo carrier by adopting a market-responsive strategy that is strengthened by our global network and expanding fleet. The addition of the B747 freighter will enable further flexibility by supplementing our existing scheduled services as and when required.”
Flexibility in loading is a key feature of the Boeing B747 freighter. With a large side cargo door the aircraft can be loaded quickly and easily, whether the cargo is made up of standard containers and pallets or nonstandard, outsized objects.
The airline will welcome a Boeing B747-400F with a nose-loading door to its fleet in October 2015, replacing the existing Boeing B747BCF to provide even more flexibility to satisfy customers’ oversized cargo transportation demands. Qatar Airways Cargo confirmed an order for an additional four Boeing B777Fs at the Paris Air Show in June, increasing its outstanding fleet order to eight Boeing B777Fs and two Airbus A330Fs.