Qatar Airways Cargo has launched its freighter flight to New York JFK and Halifax.

The flight is operated once a week with a Boeing 777 Freighter, offering 103 tonnes of cargo capacity, much of which is aimed at the export of lobster, silver hake and other seafood to Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

“We welcome Qatar Airways Cargo to Halifax Stanfield,” said Joyce Carter, president and CEO of Halifax International Airport Authority. “This new route will support our local seafood industry and have a positive impact on our provincial economy. Last year, goods valued at C$438 million (US$336 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 new flight, which is routed via Luxembourg and Zaragoza from Doha and via Zaragoza on the way back, adds to the 125 tonnes of belly capacity on Qatar Airways’ twice-daily passenger flights to New York JFK with a 777-300ER and an Airbus A350-900.

“We are very happy to add New York and Halifax to our growing list of new freighter routes,” said Ulrich Ogiermann, chief officer of cargo at Qatar Airways. “From their strategic geographical positions, not only will the new service provide our customers with great access to the Americas’ marketplace, it will allow us to share one of the region’s most sumptuous exports with the world.”

Details of the flight are as follows.