Qatar Airways To Launch Cargo Flights From Sialkot To Doha

[Abbas Ali]

SIALKOT, Sept 30 Asia Pulse Qatar Airways has announced the launch of its international cargo flights direct from Sialkot-Pakistan to Doha-Qatar from October 27, 2008.

Officials at Qatar Airways and the management of Sialkot International Airport Limited (SIAL) have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during a special ceremony held at recently established Sialkot International Airport.

SIAL Chairman Ghulam Mustafa Chaudhry, senior vice chairman Dr. Sarfraz Bashir, general manager Muhammad Nawaz Chaudhry and senior journalists were also present on the occasion.

The high ranking officials of Qatar Airways , on this occasion, said that the Qatar Airways was the first international airline which was going to launch its international direct cargo flights from Sialkot to Doha once a week at the initial stage.

Source: Yahoo! News

On the Net:

www.sial.com.pk

www.qrcargo.com

Related Topic: EK Skycargo To Start Cargo Ops From Sialkot Intl. (July 16, 2008)

[Abbas Ali]

I hope PIA Cargo seriously consider re-starting air cargo service with a pair of Airbus A310-300 freighters.

Abbas

[raihans]

Previously Emirates announced for the the cargo flights from Sialkot, have those been effected or not yet. And how Qatar Airways claiming the first International airline to operate the Cargo flights from Sialkot, rather EK announced earlier for the same?

Any pics for the ceremony?

And regarding PIA, our national carrier; let them sleep deeply when the whole share for cargo will be taken by the International carriers....

[Moin]

Yes but PIA would first need to get those 2 A310F's.

[raihans]

Yes but PIA would first need to get those 2 A310F's.

Out of 12 A310s they can utilize 2 after conversion....and i hope this is reasonable with medium haul aircraft for begining.....but at least there needed some one to take decision about it....

[Abbas Ali]

PIA should consider converting two its own Airbus A310-300s into cargo aircraft.

European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company - Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH (EADS EFW) based at Dresden Airport in Germany is well-known for converting passenger Airbus aircraft like A310 & A300 into cargo aircraft.

Details on following link:

Link: EADS EFW - Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH - Airbus Freighter Conversion

As far as I know, so far, EADS EFW has converted passenger Airbus A310-300 into cargo aircraft for airlines including Turkish Airlines, Air India and Royal Jordanian.

PIA Cargo should not sit quietly and let other cargo airlines rule Pakistan's air cargo market. PIA should re-launch PIA Cargo with a pair of Airbus A310-300 freighters.

Abbas

[Huraiz]

Like everyone I can’t understand why PIA is not starting cargo flights from Sialkot.I reckon they r not even considering it,because I haven’t heard anything about it.
I was wondering if PIA can actually afford to spare couple of its A310s to convert them into freightors???It's really good idea but how will they cope with 2-3 less A310s for passenger operations????

[PK777]

Excellent news! SIAL needs more airlines like QR Cargo to ship goods round the world. Hopefully this new airport will boost the local economy severly!

[Abbas Ali]

I was wondering if PIA can actually afford to spare couple of its A310s to convert them into freightors???It's really good idea but how will they cope with 2-3 less A310s for passenger operations????

Two Airbus A310-300 freighters should be good to start PIA Cargo operations.

The current management has plans to induct more aircraft and if this plan is implemented then I think PIA should be able to spare two of its own A310s and get them converted to cargo aircraft. The airline needs aggressive air cargo marketing team to re-launch PIA Cargo with a pair of A310-300 freighters. I think it would be a success if managed properly with competitive air freight rates offered to clients.

Abbas

[kashan]

PIA should lease/ACMI Tu-204 freighters.

[PK777]

Man Abbas should be CEO! He is a true Guiding Angel for PIA!

[Abbas Ali]

Friday, October 24, 2008 Sialkot Airport sources here disclosed that Qatar Airways will operate a cargo flight from here on October 27.

Air traffic of the region is estimated at 446,000 passengers per year, which is expected to increase by 6 per cent per annum, while the current air cargo is around 24,000 tonnes per year, expected to increase to 53,000 tonnes by the year 2014.

Sialkot International Airport handled almost 14,000 tonnes of cargo in the first year of its operation.

Source: The News

[cpt_747]

And how Qatar Airways claiming the first International airline to operate the Cargo flights from Sialkot, rather EK announced earlier for the same?

Raihan, Qatar Airways is going to be the first airline to operate between Sialkot & Doha (as source says) and not the first one to operate out of Sialkot as you assumed

Qatar Airways was the first international airline which was going to launch its international direct cargo flights from Sialkot to Doha once a week at the initial stage.

As far as PIA is in question, I have stopped stressing about that airline ever since Mr 10% came into power. Allah hi Hafiz hai PIA ka

[Abbas Ali]

Qatar Airways Cargo will be the first international cargo airline to operate flights from Sialkot because so far Emirates SkyCargo has not launched Sialkot service.

Abbas

[kashan]

If EK fly to Sialkot it will be with 777F or 747-400F.