Qatar Airways Cargo’s communications department has had a busy week. On 01DEC24, they announced the partnership expansion between Qatar Airways Cargo and Cainiao. This was followed on 04DEC24 by the MoU with Japan Airlines (JAL). And just one day later, on 05DEC24, Qatar Airways Cargo’s media people published a press release informing about plans to run a jointly held conference with the Animal Transport Association next FEB25 in Doha.
To start with, this seems to be the most important message aired by Qatar Airways Cargo: the deepening of relations between the Gulf carrier and Alibaba Group member, Cainiao. Its main aim is to meet fast-growing global e-commerce demand. Both airlines have been working together since 2021, and according to Mark Drusch, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways Cargo, this has proven to be a very fruitful relationship for all parties involved.
The pact is based on a division of labor. “By utilizing the Qatar Airways Cargo hub at Hamad International Airport in Doha, we aim to expedite shipments to customers in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, reinforcing our commitment to Cainiao,” explained the executive. The dense global network of Qatar Airways and its cargo arm, Qatar Airways Cargo, is particularly attractive for Cainiao. By transferring shipments made in China after arrival at Hamad International Airport to connecting Qatar Airways Cargo flights, the Chinese carrier can tap into a variety of markets. For instance, this includes 22 destinations in sub-Saharan Africa, served by Qatar Airways. These connections operated by Qatar Airways should give a further boost to e-commerce sales in local African marketplaces, as the number of Africans ordering shipments online is increasing rapidly.
Wan Lin, CEO of Cainiao, also referred to the network expansion resulting from the closer ties between the two airlines: “At Cainiao, we’re committed to building a smart, future-proof logistics network for e-commerce. We are pleased to strengthen our partnership with quality players like Qatar Airways Cargo, to build a more robust global express network and better support our global customers with faster deliveries and enhanced supply chain efficiency.”
Both carriers point out that through their deepened partnership, they will leverage their complementary strengths to enhance global e-commerce logistics and stimulate economic growth both at regional and global levels.
Qatar Airways Cargo and JALCARGO join forces
The two cargo airlines have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at scaling up their product offerings and achieving operational synergies. In a release they announce plans to streamline the transfer of cargo between the two carriers, this way ensuring a more efficient process for their customers. Enhanced trade flows between the core markets served by each of the partners will generate significant value, they state. Over the past 12 months, both carriers have transacted 4,462 tons of import and export cargo in Japan, highlighting the substantial impact of their collaboration. The MoU and commitment to the partnership will see this figure grow in the coming years.
This is confirmed by Yuichiro Kito, Senior Vice President, Head of Cargo and Mail at Japan Airlines, who said: “This agreement further strengthens the long-standing partnership between JAL and Qatar Airways Cargo. […] JALCARGO will leverage JAL’s passenger flights, freighter network, and the newly expanded Qatar Airways network to deliver customers’ cargo to an even broader range of destinations than ever before.”
Mark Drusch, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways Cargo, stated: “This MoU symbolizes a commitment to a deeper partnership, aiming to integrate both networks via the hubs in Doha and Tokyo [Haneda]. This will enhance network connectivity and product offerings for customers, linking Japan to Qatar Airways’ extensive network in Europe, the Middle East, the Levant, and Africa, and vice versa.”
ATA opts for Doha as venue for its conference
Finally, the Gulf carrier announced that it will be hosting the Animal Transportation Association Conference 2025 in Doha, from 16-19FEB25. The ATA event’s schedule lists keynote speeches, panel discussions, and a variety of workshops.Topics will cover a wide range of issues, from animal welfare and regulatory compliance to technological innovations and sustainability in animal transport.
Qatar Airways Cargo is highly committed in this area. For example, as part of its eQare: Rewild the Planet program, it has often returned wild animals held in captivity to their natural habitats.“The globalization of markets has significantly increased the demand for animal transportation services. The ATA Conference 2025 allows members from across the globe to come together to be educated on the complex issues our industry faces,” said Sean Harding, ATA President. Unfortunately, some carriers still fly strictly protected animals across the globe under questionable conditions, as documented by customs authorities in Hong Kong, at U.S. gateways or EU airports. With an annual value of up to 20 billion euros, the illegal trade of wild animals is the fourth largest crime worldwide – after drug trafficking, human trafficking, and arms trade.
