Qatar Airways to expand its cargo trade – CEO

Qatar Airways will expand its cargo network by building a second cargo terminal in Doha, more than doubling the capacity of its current operations, but has no plans to increase its cargo fleet, the Doha-based carrier’s CEO said on Tuesday.

“We are not going to do any more purchases. We already have orders out on up to 20 freighters which will take us up to the end of next year,” Akbar Al Baker told a news conference in Doha.

“We plan to construct a second cargo terminal… opening in 2018. We want to be industry leading carriers and offer a more efficient service through improved technology,” Al Baker said, adding that the airline was aiming for 25-30 percent of its total airline revenue to come out of its cargo business.

Al Baker later told Reuters there was no confirmed date for the launch of Qatar Airways’ domestic operations in Saudi Arabia, Al Maha Airways.

He also said the airline would not be bidding for a stake in Indian’s biggest airline by passenger numbers, IndiGO, which on Tuesday launched an initial public offering.

In July, Qatar Airways said it was in talks with IndiGO about taking a stake, but IndiGO said it was not in talks with the carrier for a stake sale.