Qatar Airways plans expansion of China passenger, cargo flights

[HONG KONG] Qatar Airways QCSC will expand passenger flights and beef up its air cargo business in China as it looks to deepen ties to one of the world’s biggest and fastest-growing aviation markets.

The Middle Eastern carrier plans to add a second daily flight between its Doha hub and Shanghai from the winter and will next week sign a strategic agreement with Alibaba Group Holding’s Cainiao logistics arm, chief commercial officer Thierry Antinori said.

While China is a key destination in its own right, it’s also part of Qatar Airways’ broader ambitions to link Asia’s largest economy to Africa and South America through the Middle East. The logistics agreement with e-commerce firm Cainiao will involve partnering in Europe and Latin America, Antinori said.

“The pipeline is to continue to grow,” he said, referring to the extra Shanghai flights. “China, as the biggest economy in Asia, is of the utmost importance for us.”

Qatar Airways currently operates 31 passenger flights to mainland China a week, and 14 to Hong Kong. Recent talks between China and Qatar will enable its flag carrier to operate an extra daily flight, while it leans on long-term strategic partners such as China Southern Airlines, in which it has a minority stake, and Xiamen Air, to secure extra capacity into the country. BLOOMBERG