Qatar Airways Cargo has launched a freighter flight to Macau and onwards over the Pacific to North America.

According to the carrier, the new flight is operated twice a week with a Boeing 777F, offering approximately 100 tonnes of capacity per flight. From Macau, the aircraft flies across the Pacific Ocean to Los Angeles and Mexico City. It then returns to Doha via Liege.

“We have launched our newest freighter destination, Macau, just in time for the holiday season when air freight demand is high and the market is strong,” said Guillaume Halleux, chief officer of cargo at Qatar Airways. “The new services will connect manufacturing industries and exporters from the region to North America directly and quickly, without requiring a stopover at our hub in Doha. The launch of these services demonstrates our commitment to our customers in helping their businesses grow, while also enabling us to expand our presence in these key regions.”

Many of the major industrial and manufacturing centres in China’s Guangdong province are located on the Macau side of the Pearl River Delta. The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge opening later this year will also offer a more convenient connection with Hong Kong. The carrier expects to carry electronics, garments and e-commerce goods out of Macau, while imports into Macau consist primarily of consumer goods.

Macau becomes Qatar Airways Cargo’s fourth freighter destination in Greater China after Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Shanghai. The carrier also transports bellyhold cargo on passenger flights to seven destinations in Greater China. In North America, Qatar Airways Cargo’s network consists of nine freighter destinations and 11 bellyhold destinations.

Qatar Airways Cargo currently operates a freighter fleet consisting of eight Airbus A330-200Fs, two 747-8Fs and 15 777Fs.