Qatar Airways Cargo has introduced a new direct freighter service that connects Bogotá, the capital of Colombia, to Dallas Fort Worth in Texas. The freighter, which operates once a week, is a Boeing 777 and takes off from Bogota every Monday, landing at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).

The freighter has the capacity to transport nearly 100 tonnes of cargo, including perishable goods like flowers, fruits, vegetables, and coffee, as well as live animals, machinery, and other general cargo that is bound for DFW.

Guillaume Halleux, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways said, “The Americas is highly important for us and we have a strong presence in the region. Through this enhancement on the route, we are pleased to grow our existing partnership with Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. Our customers in DFW now benefit from a direct freighter service to uplift perishables and other cargo directly from Colombia.”

John Ackerman, EVP of Global Strategy and Development at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport said, “Qatar’s service direct from Bogota to DFW reduces transit times for high-quality perishable goods by two to three days, extending shelf life for retailers and providing fresher products for consumers. This route adds a vital link to South American markets, enhances our global air cargo network and strengthens our ability to flow goods between Latin America and Asia.”

Qatar Airways Cargo has grown its presence in the American continent since August 2010, when it launched its first Boeing 777 freighter flight from Doha to Chicago. Today, the airline connects several countries in the region through a combination of belly-hold and freighter flights. In total, Qatar Airways Cargo operates 14 freighter destinations and 14 belly-hold cargo destinations in the Americas, offering a weekly capacity of over 5,300 metric tonnes in both directions. The airline’s Next Generation approach is reflected in its efforts to improve services and operations across its network.