Halifax International Airport Authority (HIAA) announced Qatar Airways Cargo will launch a weekly Wednesday service to Doha with a stop in Zaragoza, Spain. The new service, set to begin on July 20, will operate with a B777-200 freighter. The freighter can carry up to 103 tonnes of cargo. Much of that cargo will be Nova Scotia lobster and silver hake.
“We welcome Qatar Airways Cargo to Halifax Stanfield,” says Joyce Carter, Halifax International Airport Authority president & CEO. “This new route will support our local seafood industry and have a positive impact on our provincial economy. Last year, goods valued at $438 million were shipped from Halifax Stanfield across the world. As the interest in Nova Scotia lobster exports continues to grow, our prime location on the Atlantic coast is attracting top cargo carriers and the addition of Qatar is another example of the continued growth of our cargo exports.”
The flight is scheduled to arrive in Halifax on Wednesdays at 3:20 a.m. from New York and depart for Zaragoza then on to Doha at 5:20 a.m. From its hub in Doha, the seafood will be transported throughout the Middle East as well as South and North East Asia.
“We are very happy to add Halifax to our growing list of new routes. From its strategic geographical position, not only will it provide our customers with great access to the Canadian marketplace, it will allow us to share one of Canada's most sumptuous exports with the world,” said Ulrich Ogiermann, Qatar Airways Chief Officer Cargo.
Shipments of live seafood from Halifax Stanfield continue to grow. By the end of May 2016, the value of seafood cargo shipped from Halifax Stanfield is 21.3 percent higher than last year and the Qatar Airways Cargo flight will contribute to this trend. Each weekly freighter is expected to generate $1.0 million in new exports for the province.
