IAG Cargo and Qatar Airways consider expanding partnership

IAG Cargo and Qatar Airways Cargo signed a block space agreement in May, under which Qatar provides space on five weekly Hong Kong-London 777F flights. Now the two are considering expanding the agreement to cover more routes in Asia.

Speaking with Cargo Forwarder Global, Dave Shepherd, Head of Commercial at IAG Cargo, said that the capacity-sharing agreement could soon be expanded to include points in India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Shepherd did not discuss dates for any possible expansion, but said that the IAG-Qatar commercial arrangement had a “very fruitful start” and could be a workable model for other carriers seeking to pool risks and reduce costs.

IAG had entered the agreement with Qatar after terminating ACMI-leases for three Atlas Air 747-8Fs.