Qatar Airways Cargo, the world’s leading air cargo carrier was awarded by Nepal Freight Forwarders Association (NEFFA) for achieving the highest export tonnage (2850 tonnes) out of the country for 2020. The award was handed over in Kathmandu during the annual Nepal Cargo Day celebration organised by NEFFA on 29 July 2021.

The awards are held every year by the association to honor the top three carriers for their roles in supporting the country’s exports. Qatar Airways Cargo has been securing the first position for the highest uplift from Nepal for more than a decade.

from left: Tap Shrestha, Senior Cargo Sales Executive Nepal, Qatar Airways Cargo; Prakash Karki, Immediate Past President NEFFA; Manoj Adhikari, President NEFFA
(L to R): Tap Shrestha, Senior Cargo Sales Executive Nepal, Qatar Airways Cargo; Prakash Karki, Immediate Past President NEFFA; Manoj Adhikari, President NEFFA

Guillaume Halleux, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways Cargo commented: “I am proud and humbled to receive the award for highest exports from Nepal. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all our teams who go above and beyond to support our customers. Their dedication and team work especially during the challenging times of the pandemic last year has been vital. We also appreciate the trust and support of our customers, local authorities and business partners.”

Nepal is a key market for the airline and it has been operating flights to its capital city, Kathmandu since 1997. The airline’s export market share in 2020 was 45% of the total exports from Nepal while imports constituted 44%. Qatar Airways Cargo currently operates double daily flights to and from Kathmandu for the month of August, offering more than 150 tonnes of cargo capacity each week, each way. Through its hub in Doha, the airline connects Nepal with important export destinations in the USA, Europe, Australia and Asia.

During the pandemic, it played a crucial role to facilitate trade in Nepal and support the country and businesses with import and export requirements and even introduced passenger freighters on ad hoc basis, along with its scheduled flights to and from Kathmandu, to ensure continuity of trade.