Qatar Airways has operated its first ever charter flight from Colombo, Sri Lanka, to Columbus, Ohio.

According to the carrier, the flight was operated by a Boeing 777F, transporting more than 100 tonnes of garments in collaboration with Colombo-based forwarder EFL (Expo Freight) for L Brands, the American fashion retailer based in Ohio.

“We appreciate the trust that EFL has placed in us to deliver this special air charter,” said Ulrich Ogiermann, chief cargo officer of Qatar Airways. “Our extensive cargo network, young and modern fleet of 20 freighters and our expertise in freight charters are the competitive advantages that enable us to customize our connectivity and services to most of the airports in the world. With the current five-times-daily belly flights and twice-weekly Airbus A330 freighters to and from Colombo, Sri Lanka, apparel and local industries in the country are offered more capacity, including quick and efficient connections to key trade markets in Europe and the Americas via our Doha hub.”

Qatar Airways now offers over 460 tonnes of cargo capacity every week from Sri Lanka, where the apparel industry accounts for about 40% of total exports, including sportswear, lingerie, loungewear, bridal wear, workwear, swimwear and children’s wear.

“As a customer-centric company, we are honoured to have collaborated with Qatar Airways Cargo on this special charter service for L Brands,” said Hanif Yusoof, founder and chairman of EFL. “This serves as a great example of logistics providers and airlines working together to tailor solutions that benefit supply chain customers. We look forward to increasing our engagement with carriers and customers, developing more customized solutions that are both timely and effective.”