Qatar Airways Cargo delivers record-breaking year and reaffirms its leading position

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Qatar Airways Cargo has once again proven why it continues to be the world’s leading air cargo carrier. In a year defined by disruption and fierce competition, the world’s largest cargo airline posted its strongest financial performance since the COVID era, with a 17.4% surge in cargo revenue and 1.5 million tonnes of chargeable weight transported. A bold strategy, relentless innovation, and unmatched operational reliability have kept the airline firmly ahead of the curve—and the industry.

Backed by a modern fleet of 28 Boeing 777 freighters and a network reaching over 60 freighter and 160 belly destinations, Qatar Airways Cargo has maintained its market-leading 7.11% global share.

It’s not just about volume—it’s about impact. Of the total cargo uplifted, 470,000kg were humanitarian aid, delivered free of charge under the WeQare programme in partnership with UNHCR, Airlink and other global NGOs. In addition, through its WeQare “Rewild the Planet” initiative, the cargo carrier transported 1182 animals, free of charge, supporting organisations such as United for Wildlife and Animal Defenders International. Special cases included 47 ring-tailed and brown lemurs, 155 radiated tortoises, 757 spider tortoises and seven lions.

“Reaching the top is hard. Staying there takes vision, precision, improvement and teamwork,” says Mark Drusch, Chief Officer Cargo. “We’ve executed relentlessly and the results speak for themselves. Our agility in adapting to shifting market conditions, a focus on investing in digitalisation, deeper data-driven analyses, and best-in-class reliability is what has attributed to our success. I’m incredibly proud of the Qatar Airways Cargo team, our partners and customers who continue to make us the benchmark in air cargo.”

Product innovation remained front and centre. Driven by customer insight, Qatar Airways Cargo launched:

  • AirPlus Solutions, combining Q-Climate, Q-Plus, and Q-Prime for tailored shipment options;
  • Relaunch of its Live product and the opening of its state-of-the-art Animal Centre at the Doha hub. Spanning 5,260 m², the temperature-controlled centre is the largest single-carrier facility in the world;
  • Aerospace, a dedicated service for aviation, defence, and space cargo;
  • TechLift, built to handle the extreme precision required by the semiconductor industry.

At the same time, digital transformation continued to accelerate. Highlights include:

  • E-bookings via its Digital Lounge platform rose to 36% by March 2025;
  • Becoming the first cargo airline globally to enable interline partners to book online;
  • Expanding omnichannel options with Octoloop by Cargo Flash in 10 Indian cities, including wallet integration;
  • Integrating with UNISYS Cargo Portal Service for expanded access;
  • Partnering with Wiremind Cargo to become the first airline live on CARGOSTACK Optimiser, bringing AI-powered revenue management to the forefront.

Fleet expansion and network enhancement enabled new freighter services to Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Vienna, Kuala Lumpur, and London, plus increased frequencies to China and Hong Kong.

The results? 10 major industry awards:

  • Cargo Airline of the Year – Air Cargo Week World Air Cargo Awards 2024
  • Air Cargo Industry Customer Care – Air Cargo Week World Air Cargo Awards 2024
  • Air Cargo Industry Achievement – Air Cargo Week World Air Cargo Awards 2024
  • Air Cargo Industry Marketing & Promotional Campaign – Air Cargo Week World Air Cargo Awards 2024
  • Cargo Airline of the Year – Air Cargo News Awards 2024
  • Sustainable Cargo Airline of the Year 2024 – Middle East – Freight Week Awards
  • International Air Cargo Marketer of the Year – STAT Times Awards 2025
  • Green Logistics Initiative of the Year – Middle East Logistics Awards 2025
  • Social Responsibility Initiative of the Year – Middle East Logistics Awards 2025
  • Humanitarian Force for Good – Air Transport World Airline Industry Achievement Awards 2025

“We’re not here to follow trends—we’re here to set them,” adds Drusch. “Qatar Airways Cargo will continue to lead through performance, foresight, and purpose. New products and digital innovation are already in the pipeline. This is what Leading Global Trade looks like.”