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Qatar Airways Cargo opens Pittsburgh market

[ September 15, 2017   //   ]

Pittsburgh will be Qatar Airways Cargo’s fifth freighter destination in the Americas launched this year, strengthening the cargo carrier’s commitment to supporting the American air trade and supply chain industry.

“Qatar Airways is proud to be supporting the US economy by opening yet another major US commercial region to global markets,” said Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive
Akbar Al Baker upon making the announcement.

He revealed that the carrier’s business strategy is based on consultation and building productive relationships with local government and business leaders, to provide global air freight connectivity that benefits the city, region and state. “In doing so, we support the regional economy, create jobs, help grow local businesses and increase export capacity,” he said. “We look forward to connecting Pennsylvania to the rest of our
global network.”

Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald is thrilled that Qatar Airways Cargo has selected Pittsburgh as its next US market for its cargo flights. “It is another reflection of our region’s growing economy,” he said. “This is a significant announcement and we thank Qatar Airways Cargo for their confidence in us, and look forward to additional opportunities with the airline in the future.”

Qatar Airways all-cargo flights mark the first time this region has had a dedicated international air cargo service. “Qatar Airways Cargo has presented a huge opportunity for our region,” remarked Pittsburgh International Airport CEO Christina Cassotis. “We’d like to thank our partners at Qatar Airways Cargo for recognizing the economic opportunity in Pittsburgh.”

Qatar Airways Cargo currently transports over 100 tons of belly-hold cargo each week on the daily wide-body A350 passenger flights to Philadelphia. The introduction of freighters to Pittsburgh will inject an additional 200 tons of weekly capacity, offering businesses in the city and the wider region with direct air freight service to the cargo carrier’s global network.

The introduction of twice-weekly Boeing 777 freighter services will complement and enhance Qatar Airways Cargo’s existing service to the United States. The new Doha-
Luxembourg-Atlanta-Pittsburgh-Luxembourg-Doha route will not only connect Pittsburgh with European markets via the cargo carrier’s European hub in Luxembourg, but also link trade businesses in Asia and Middle East through an easy transit at its state-of-the-art home base in Doha, Qatar.

Pittsburgh is known as the “Steel City” for its many steel-related businesses. The manufacturing sector in Pittsburgh has diversified over the years, with cutting-edge companies in life sciences, robotics, health care, information technology, nuclear engineering and energy, joining leading firms in traditional industries such as steel and chemicals. Pittsburgh is perfectly placed to service not only the city and Allegheny County but the surrounding areas in Ohio and West Virginia. Products expected to be transported into and out of Pittsburgh include heavy electronics, high-value manufactured goods and pharmaceuticals.

 

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