Qatar Cargo U.S. freighter connectivity grows to 13 with Pittsburgh stop

A Qatar Airways Cargo 777 freighter touched town at Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) yesterday, kicking off the first scheduled freighter route through the airport. The twice-weekly scheduled freighter service takes off from Doha on Wednesdays and Saturdays with stops at Luxembourg and Atlanta, Georgia, before arriving in Pittsburgh.

“This global air freight connectivity positions Pittsburgh International as a logistics center for importing and exporting our region’s goods,” said PIT CEO Christina Cassotis.

Qatar Airways Cargo already runs cargo into the region through Philadelphia, in A350 bellies. The introduction of freighters to Pittsburgh will inject an additional 200 tonnes of weekly capacity, offering businesses in the city and the state with a direct airfreight uplift to the cargo carrier’s global network.

While Pittsburgh’s history is steeped in steel production, earning it the nickname “The Steel City,” its economy has diversified as steel production has moved to countries such as China.

Today, the city’s economy includes such industries as life sciences, robotics, health care, information technology, nuclear engineering and energy, as well as its traditional industries, like steel and chemicals.

Qatar Cargo said it intends to tap into the output from these varied sectors, citing products such as heavy electronics, high-value goods and pharmaceuticals.