Hamad International Airport (HIA) in Doha, Qatar, has reported a 4.7% increase in cargo handled at the hub in the first quarter of this year.
The hub processed 529,436 tonnes of cargo in the first quarter of 2020: 176,279 tonnes in January, 173,248 tonnes in February and 179,909 tonnes in March.
The airport attributed this growth to an increased number of essential goods and medical supplies being transported globally as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak.
HIA also said that Qatar Airways Cargo, the country's flagship carrier, continued to operate approximately 175 freighter and bellyhold flights each day to meet increased market demand for medical cargo and humanitarian aid during the pandemic.
HIA reported that in the past month alone, Qatar Airways Cargo had worked with governments and NGOs to transport more than 100,000 tonnes — the equivalent of approximately 1,000 fully-loaded Boeing 777 freighters — of medical and aid supplies to various regions affected by Covid-19 on scheduled and chartered services.
HIA said the carrier is also operating charter flights carrying essential supplies to China, India, Iran, Kuwait, Lebanon, France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Poland, United Kingdom, the United States and Australia.
Last week, in a single day, Qatar Airways Cargo operated 78 freighters and 69 cargo-only passenger aircraft flights HIA — a total of 147 cargo flights — to support countries with coronavirus relief aid. This was the highest number of cargo flights that the carrier has operated in a 24-hour period.
