Qatar Airways Cargo and MASkargo will share their networks and fleet capacity to increase cargo services to customers as part of a new partnership.
MASkargo customers will have access to the global Qatar Airways Cargo network, while Qatar Airways Cargo customers will have further access to the growing Asia Pacific market, including new destinations and additional capacity in existing stations.
The partnership is the result of a move by Qatar Airways Group and Malaysia Aviation Group to further their relationship as Oneworld alliance partners with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Qatar Airways Cargo and MASkargo – the cargo airline and subsidiary of Malaysia Aviation Group.
The airlines will be able to leverage both Hamad International Airport (DOH) and Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL), as strategic stops to serve the combined network. This partnership is also supported by the planned growth of Qatar Airways Cargo handling capabilities at its new and expanded Cargo Terminal in Doha.
Both airlines are also set on further growth. As the launch customer of the Boeing 777-8 freighter, Qatar Airways Cargo has purchased 34 aircraft and has options for 16 more. Malaysian Airlines has also obtained 20 new A330neo aircraft for passenger flights operations, offering new belly capacity options.
Qatar Airways Group chief executive Mohammed Al-Meer said: “Our new MoU with Malaysia Aviation Group is testament to our deepening relations with Malaysia and the integral APAC market. This strategic cooperation with our oneworld partner will serve to link our freighter and belly-hold networks with our cargo product offering and capacity, allowing us to further cement our relationship and foster the close links between our airlines.”
Group managing director of Malaysia Aviation Group Izham Ismail commented: “Expanding our partnership with Qatar Airways Cargo marks a significant milestone for MASkargo. This collaboration will not only enhance our product offering and operational capabilities but also solidify our position in the global cargo market.
“By leveraging each other’s strengths, we are poised to deliver unparalleled service to our customers and achieve remarkable growth together.”
Qatar Airways and Malaysia Airlines launched their codeshare cooperation in 2004 and have significantly expanded the partnership in recent years, which today is comprised of 62 codeshare destinations in Malaysia, South East Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, Europe, the Americas and Africa.
Qatar Airways Cargo’s chief cargo officer Mark Drusch recently told Air Cargo News how the business aims to create efficiencies in the supply chain by tackling the issue of shipment no-shows, pushing for index-linked long-term contracts and integrating more data into its systems.
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