Doha based Qatar Airways Cargo will use B777s for seafood flights to Norway.
Qatar airways Cargo said that it will use passenger Boeing B777s to transport seafood from Norway to Doha,Qatar. The cargo will then be shipped to different destinations in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
The airline said that it would fly to Harstad-Narvik Airport (EVE) in northern Norway to help reduce transport times for seafood.
“In cooperation with NordicGSA, our dedicated GSA for Norway, we are pleased to introduce cargo capacity and support Northern Norway’s seafood and salmon exporters who will benefit from direct connection to African, Asian, and Middle East markets via Doha. Our state-of-the-art Climate Control Centre has dedicated storage areas for perishables transiting the hub while the use of reefer trucks ensures a seamless cool chain for all perishable shipments.”, said Mr. Guillaume Halleux, Cheif Officer Cargo, Qatar airways.
The carrier will fly three-times-a-week on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. It added that it will be able to carry up to 150 tons of seafood on its three weekly flights. For its flights into Norway, the airline said that it can handle up to 50 tons of cargo from its worldwide network.
“Perishable Center Nord AS is very pleased to cooperate with Qatar Airways Cargo. Operating more direct routes to and from the market will mean a lot for fresh seafood businesses from the North, and quality, freshness, and competitiveness will definitely improve. We are looking forward to start up, develop, and together with Qatar Airways Cargo make seafood from Northern Norway more available globally.”, said Mr. Stig Winther, Perishable Center Nord AS.
Director of Traffic Development and Cargo at Avinor, Mr. Martin Langaas, said, “Our partnership with Qatar Airways Cargo has been a true success story for Avinor and the Norwegian seafood industry. With the opening of a second gateway for seafood exports, the connectivity for Norway will improve further.”
Harstad-Narvik airport is located in Nordland country, Norway and is one of the northern most airports in the world. The airport is located in the Arctic circle. The airline said that by flying directly into Harstad-Narvik airport , the transportation time will be reduced drastically. Time is a crucial component when it comes to transporting perishables like fresh fish.
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