Qatar Airways Cargo reportedly launches freighter service to Tbilisi

Dhaka: Qatar Airways Cargo has reportedly started scheduled freighter operations to Tbilisi, expanding its cargo network in the South Caucasus.

According to reports, the airline's new weekly service operates on the Doha–Yerevan–Tbilisi–Doha route using a Boeing 777 freighter. The operation was reportedly approved by Georgia's Civil Aviation Agency under the country's Ministry of Economy. Qatar Airways said it was not in a position to comment on the launch, according to reports.

The carrier had previously announced plans to introduce cargo flights to Tbilisi in 2013, with an Airbus A330 freighter expected to operate a weekly service. However, those plans did not materialize as scheduled.

The reported launch comes as Qatar Airways Cargo continues to expand its global freight network. In May, the airline announced a 12 percent increase in cargo capacity through the addition of new freighter destinations and expanded belly cargo space on passenger services.

As part of that expansion, the airline has increased passenger flights to Istanbul from 14 to 17 per week, alongside two dedicated weekly freighter services. The combined operation provides around 190 tons of weekly belly-hold cargo capacity in each direction, in addition to 200 tons of weekly freighter capacity from Istanbul.