Qatar Airways chief executive officer Akabar Al Baker says the new freighter service began on 24 September. "We're offering three services a week between Delhi and Doha, two between Chennai and Doha and four services a week between Amsterdam and Doha. These services will increase our cargo capacity by more than 750 tonnes or 5400 CBM per week.

"We can now offer our customers in India, Europe and the Gulf a significant amount of capacity and the premium service that they've come to expect from Qatar Airways. We expect that most of the cargo that we will carry on these new services will include apparel, perishables, pharmaceuticals, machinery and heavy oil and gas equipment. These new services and the new A300-600 freighter will spearhead our cargo operations during this year.

"We're expecting to increase the amount of cargo we're handling by more than 35 per cent in 2003. In the past six years since the airline was relaunched, Qatar Airways' cargo division has recorded an annual average growth rate of more than 32 per cent - more than five times the growth rate for global air cargo. Qatar Airways will be continuing with our program of route and fleet expansion during 2003, which will also deliver greater capacity to Qatar Airways Cargo customers.

"By the end of 2005 Qatar Airways will be flying to 60 destinations. We took delivery of our first converted A300-600 freighter in July, and we have orders for two additional A300-600 freighters. In addition, we'll continue to increase our cargo capacity with new A330s and A340s that we presently have on order. We remain very committed to our cargo customers and committed to developing cargo as a major part of our business well into the future."

Qatar Airways has built an enviable reputation for its customer service and its growth since it was relaunched in 1997. The international airline quality monitor Skytrax recently rated Qatar Airways' cabin service as the best of the Middle Eastern carriers, and the fifth best in the world.

The airline has bucked the downturn in the international aviation market to become one of the fastest growing airlines in the world - significantly increasing its fleet and expanding its route network across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, the Indian subcontinent and the Far East.
As part of this growth plan, Qatar Airways will extend its route network to 50 destinations by the end of 2003, and 60 by the end of 2004.

It has recently added Manchester, Rome and Moscow to its route network. It will soon begin flights to Shanghai, Seoul and Tripoli. Qatar Airways has recently signed a $5.1 billion agreement to purchase 32 more additional Airbus aircraft in a deal that will increase the fleet to 52 by 2008.

Qatar Airways is also one of the launch customers for the A380 'super jumbo' in 2007, when it will take delivery of two of the aircraft. Qatar Airways operates a number of subsidiary companies including Qatar Aviation Services, Qatar Aviation Catering Company, United Media International, Qatar Airways Holidays, Doha International Airport, and Qatar Duty Free.

The freighter service will operate on the following days and times (all times are local times):
Monday
Doha - Chennai (QR6270) departing 03:05 am, arriving Chennai 10:00 am
Chennai - Doha (QR6271) departing 12:00 pm, arriving Doha 13:55 pm
Doha - Amsterdam (QR6055) departing 15:25 pm, arriving Amsterdam 21:00 pm
Amsterdam - Doha (QR6056) departing Amsterdam 22:35 pm, arriving Doha 05:40 am Tuesday

Wednesday
Doha - Delhi (QR6280) departing 14:25 pm, arriving Delhi 20:30 pm
Delhi - Doha (QR6281) departing Delhi 22:30 pm, arriving Doha 23:59 pm

Thursday
Doha - Amsterdam (QR6055) departing 02:00 am, arriving Amsterdam 07:45 am
Amsterdam - Doha (QR6056) departing 10:00 am, arriving Doha 17:05 pm

Friday
Doha - Chennai (QR6270) departing 03:05 am, arriving Chennai 10:00 am
Chennai - Doha (QR6271) departing 12:00 pm, arriving Doha 13:55 pm
Doha - Delhi (QR6280) departing 16:00 pm, arriving Delhi 22:05 pm

Saturday
Delhi - Doha (QR6281) departing 00:05 am, arriving Doha 01:35 am
Doha - Amsterdam (QR6055) departing 04:15 am, arriving Amsterdam 10:00 am
Amsterdam - Doha (QR6056) departing 12:00 pm, arriving Doha 19:05 pm
Doha - Delhi (QR6280) departing 22:35 pm, arriving Delhi 04:40 am Sunday

Sunday
Delhi - Doha (QR6281) departing 07:05 am, arriving Doha 08:35 am
Doha - Amsterdam (QR6055) departing 10:10 am, arriving Amsterdam 15:55 pm
Amsterdam - Doha (QR6056) departing 17:55 pm, arriving Doha 01:00 am Monday