Qatar Airways Cargo tracking

What is Qatar Airways Cargo?

Qatar Airways Cargo is the freight division of Qatar Airways, the national airline of the State of Qatar, headquartered at Hamad International Airport in Doha. The division operates as one of the largest international air cargo carriers in the world, ranking consistently among the top global operators by volume and network reach. Its customer base is composed primarily of freight forwarders, logistics companies, importers, and exporters across industries that require specialized handling, from pharmaceuticals and perishables to high-value electronics, live animals, and time-critical commercial freight.

The history of Qatar Airways Cargo is closely tied to the growth of Qatar Airways itself, which was founded in November 1993 and re-launched in 1994 as the Qatari national carrier. For its first decade, the airline transported freight exclusively through the belly-hold capacity of its passenger aircraft. The dedicated cargo division formally took shape in June 2003, when the airline incorporated its first dedicated freighter, an Airbus A300-600R converted from passenger to full cargo configuration, launching initial service routes to Amsterdam and Chennai. This single converted aircraft marked the beginning of what would grow into a fleet of 31 dedicated freighters over the following two decades.

Subsequent expansions came at a steady pace. On August 18, 2010, Qatar Airways Cargo launched its first US-dedicated cargo service, flying from Doha to Chicago O'Hare International Airport via Amsterdam using Boeing 777 freighter aircraft. In March 2013, the first of three Airbus A330F freighters was delivered on lease from BOC Aviation, replacing the older A300-600F aircraft. In December 2016, the carrier announced a major expansion into the Americas, adding freighter services to Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Quito, and Miami starting February 2017. By 2023, the company marked twenty years of dedicated freighter operations, reflecting growth from one converted aircraft to a global network of over 160 destinations.

• Founded (dedicated freighter operations): June 2003, with the incorporation of the first converted Airbus A300-600R freighter aircraft; parent airline Qatar Airways was founded in November 1993
• Parent company: Qatar Airways Group, the national airline of the State of Qatar
• Headquarters: Doha, State of Qatar
• Primary hub: Hamad International Airport (HIA), Doha, with partner hubs in Kuala Lumpur, London, Madrid, and Miami
• IATA AWB prefix: 157, used as the standard prefix for all Air Waybill tracking numbers
• Fleet: 31 dedicated freighters, supplemented by belly-hold capacity on over 200 Qatar Airways passenger aircraft
• Network: More than 160 destinations worldwide, combining dedicated freighter routes and passenger belly-hold services
• CEIV certifications: First airline in the world to attain the complete suite of IATA CEIV certifications, covering pharmaceuticals, fresh produce, live animals, and lithium batteries
• Sustainability program: WeQare, with CO2 emissions tracking through the IATA CO2NNECT platform, which the carrier was the first cargo operator to join in 2021

Qatar Airways Cargo's position in the global air freight market rests on several structural advantages. Hamad International Airport sits at a geographic midpoint between Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas, giving transshipment cargo moving through Doha access to a wide range of onward connections without lengthy detours. The carrier's Quick Ramp Transfer at HIA is recognized as the fastest airline ramp transfer service for cargo in the world, reducing connection times for freight moving through the hub. The 55,000-square-meter cargo terminal at HIA processes up to 1.4 million tonnes of freight annually, with 11 wide-body freighter stands, 64 temperature-controlled positions, and a dedicated Live Animal Centre spanning 4,200 square meters.

Which countries does Qatar Airways Cargo deliver to?

Qatar Airways Cargo operates one of the most geographically extensive air cargo networks in the world, serving over 160 destinations across six continents. The network combines dedicated freighter routes, which cover more than 70 destinations, with the belly-hold capacity of the Qatar Airways passenger fleet. The primary hub at Hamad International Airport in Doha acts as the central transit and distribution point, with all long-haul freighter routes radiating from this hub. Partner hubs in Kuala Lumpur, London, Madrid, and Miami supplement Doha by providing regional distribution depth in Southeast Asia, Western Europe, and the Americas.

In Africa, Qatar Airways Cargo launched the Kigali Africa Hub in Rwanda in 2023, in partnership with RwandAir. This is the first hub the carrier has established outside of Qatar. The Kigali facility spans approximately 4,900 square meters, with an annual handling capacity of around 49,000 tonnes and 16 dedicated cool positions for fresh food and pharmaceutical cargo. Boeing 777 freighters operate twice a week from Doha to Kigali, with onward services to Entebbe, Nairobi, and Liège before returning to Doha via Oslo or Lyon. Intra-Africa services connecting Kigali with Lagos and Kigali with Johannesburg each operate three times per week.

• Middle East and Gulf: Extensively served via the Doha hub at Hamad International Airport, with connections throughout the Arabian Peninsula and Levant region
• Europe: Amsterdam, Brussels, Basel, London, Madrid, Frankfurt, Paris, Liège, Oslo, and Lyon, served by both freighter and belly-hold capacity
• North America: Chicago O'Hare, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, and Washington Dulles, with Chicago inaugurated as the first US cargo destination in August 2010
• South America: São Paulo, Buenos Aires, and Quito, added in February 2017 as part of the carrier's Americas expansion
• Asia-Pacific: Chennai, New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Singapore, among other destinations
• Africa: Kigali (hub), Entebbe, Nairobi, Lagos, and Johannesburg, with the Kigali Africa Hub providing regional distribution across sub-Saharan Africa
• QR Pharma destinations: 71 dedicated destinations with specialized pharmaceutical handling, covering key pharmaceutical import and export markets worldwide

For shippers in markets without direct freighter service, Qatar Airways Cargo offers access through the belly-hold capacity of passenger flights operating across the full Qatar Airways network. This extends the effective reach of the cargo operation well beyond the 70-plus dedicated freighter destinations, covering a much broader range of city pairs served by the passenger airline. The QR Pharma network alone spans 71 destinations, with Pharma Express freighter services operating from key pharmaceutical manufacturing and export hubs including Basel, Brussels, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad.

What are the Qatar Airways Cargo services and delivery times?

Qatar Airways Cargo has structured its product portfolio around specific cargo types rather than offering a single undifferentiated freight service. Each product line addresses a distinct set of handling requirements, from temperature sensitivity and time urgency to security protocols and live animal welfare standards. This approach allows freight forwarders and direct shippers to select a service category matched to the physical and regulatory characteristics of their consignment.

• QR Pharma: The pharmaceutical and healthcare cargo product, providing both active and passive temperature-control solutions. Active containers maintain cargo at 2°C to 8°C or 15°C to 25°C. The QR Pharma network covers 71 destinations, with Pharma Express freighter services from Basel, Brussels, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad
• QR Fresh: Temperature-controlled transportation for perishable goods including dairy, meat, fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Shipments benefit from 64 temperature-controlled positions at the HIA cargo terminal and a refrigerated truck ramp transfer service that is the only one of its kind operated in the Middle East
• QR Live: Dedicated service for live animal transportation, backed by the 4,200-square-meter Live Animal Centre at HIA, which includes dedicated holding areas, horse stalls, pet kennels, a 300-square-meter paddock, and 24/7 veterinary care. A Kennel Calculator Tool and Pet Card Service with photo and status updates are available for pet shipments
• QR Express: A premium airport-to-airport service for time-critical shipments, launched in April 2016. It offers priority loading at origin, short and flexible close-out times, priority unloading at destination, and cargo retrieval approximately 90 minutes after aircraft arrival
• SecureLift: Launched in September 2023 for valuable and vulnerable cargo, including precious metals, gold bullion, banknotes, jewelry, watches, high-value electronics, and art. Features include high loading priority, close monitoring, approved data loggers, shipment escorts, and strict security protocols throughout the journey
• QR Charter: Full aircraft charter services using Boeing B777 freighters, Airbus A330 freighters, or the Boeing B747-400BCF, which carries up to 112.5 tonnes per flight and is suitable for outsized or extremely heavy loads
• Courier Service: An enhanced offering for small, time-sensitive shipments. In 2022, Qatar Airways Cargo transported 40,000 tonnes of courier shipments through this product line
• QR Mail: Postal mail and time-critical mail shipments handled on behalf of postal operators and e-commerce fulfillment companies

For QR Express shipments, Qatar Airways Cargo targets cargo retrieval at the final destination approximately 90 minutes after aircraft arrival. For standard freighter services, transit times depend on the origin-destination pair and whether direct or connecting service is available. Direct freighter routes such as Doha to Amsterdam, Doha to Chicago, or Doha to Miami offer the shortest connection times for those lanes. Intra-Africa services between Kigali and Lagos, and between Kigali and Johannesburg, operate three times per week, giving regional shippers multiple weekly departure options.

For destinations served through belly-hold capacity on Qatar Airways passenger flights, connection times follow the passenger flight schedule, which operates with high frequency from Doha across the airline's global network. The Quick Ramp Transfer at Hamad International Airport minimizes connection time for all transshipment freight moving through Doha, regardless of the product type selected. For QR Live shipments, the dedicated Live Animal Centre provides round-the-clock veterinary access, meaning transit times for animals are managed with welfare considerations built into the handling process from the outset.

What are the Qatar Airways Cargo rates and maximum dimensions accepted?

Qatar Airways Cargo follows the standard pricing model used across the air freight industry. Rates are calculated based on the chargeable weight of the shipment, which is determined by comparing the actual gross weight with the volumetric weight and applying the higher of the two figures. The origin-destination pair, the service tier selected, the commodity type, and prevailing market conditions all influence the final rate per kilogram. Shippers and freight forwarders can access rates and submit booking requests through the carrier's Digital Lounge e-booking portal, as well as through third-party cargo booking platforms including CargoAi, and Cargo.one.

Rate levels vary across the product lines. A booking under QR Express, which provides priority boarding and rapid handling, attracts a premium over standard belly-hold freight. SecureLift, which includes escorts, data loggers, and enhanced security at every stage, carries its own rate structure reflecting the specialized handling involved. QR Charter rates are negotiated on a per-flight basis and depend on aircraft type, route, and cargo specifications. The Boeing B747-400BCF offers the highest capacity in the charter fleet with a maximum payload of 112.5 tonnes per flight, making it the appropriate choice for extremely heavy or outsized loads that exceed the limits of narrower-body freighter aircraft.

• Pricing basis: Chargeable weight, calculated as the higher of actual gross weight or volumetric weight, multiplied by the applicable rate per kilogram
• Booking channels: The carrier's Digital Lounge portal and third-party platforms including CargoAi, and Cargo.one
• Charter maximum payload: Up to 112.5 tonnes per flight on the Boeing B747-400BCF aircraft, suited for outsized or extremely heavy cargo
• Rate transparency: Specific rate tables are not published openly and must be obtained through the Digital Lounge booking portal or via quotation through a registered freight forwarder
• Specialized rate structures: QR Express, SecureLift, QR Pharma, QR Fresh, and QR Live each carry distinct pricing that reflects the additional handling, equipment, or security requirements of each product

What are the Qatar Airways Cargo delivery options?

Qatar Airways Cargo operates on an airport-to-airport model, meaning that shipments are accepted at origin airports and released to consignees or their appointed agents at destination airports. The actual door-to-door portion of delivery in most markets is the responsibility of the local agent, freight forwarder, or customs broker engaged by the shipper or consignee. This is standard practice in the air cargo industry, and Qatar Airways Cargo works with a global network of local handling agents and cargo representatives to coordinate collection and delivery arrangements at destinations across its network.

At Hamad International Airport, the cargo terminal covers 55,000 square meters, with 11 wide-body freighter aircraft stands, 42 airside loading docks, and 31 landside truck-loading facilities. The terminal has a total annual processing capacity of 1.4 million tonnes. For temperature-sensitive cargo moving under QR Pharma or QR Fresh, specialized temperature-controlled vehicles and refrigerated trucks handle transfers between the terminal and the aircraft ramp. Qatar Airways Cargo is the only carrier in the Middle East to offer this type of reefer truck ramp transfer at its home hub. The terminal maintains 64 dedicated cool positions for temperature-sensitive consignments.

• Standard airport-to-airport: Freight is accepted at the origin cargo facility, transported by freighter or belly-hold aircraft, and released at the destination cargo terminal for collection by the consignee or their appointed agent
• QR Express priority handling: Elevated boarding priority, short close-out times, and cargo retrieval at destination approximately 90 minutes after aircraft arrival
• Quick Ramp Transfer (QRT): The fastest airline ramp transfer for transshipment cargo in the world, available for all freight categories moving through Hamad International Airport
• Temperature-controlled transfer: Refrigerated trucks and specialized vehicles for QR Pharma and QR Fresh shipments between the warehouse and the aircraft ramp at HIA, the only such service in the Middle East
• Live Animal Centre: A 4,200-square-meter dedicated facility at HIA for live animal transits, with horse stalls, pet kennels, a 300-square-meter paddock, and 24/7 veterinary support
• SecureLift secure handling: Dedicated secure storage and shipment escort services for valuable and vulnerable cargo, with close monitoring and approved data loggers throughout the journey

What should I do if my Qatar Airways Cargo parcel is lost or damaged?

Qatar Airways Cargo processes claims for damaged or mishandled freight in line with international air cargo industry standards. When damage is discovered at the destination airport upon receipt of a shipment, the consignee or their appointed agent must report it at the destination cargo facility before leaving the premises. At the time of reporting, the consignee receives a file reference number that will be required for any subsequent correspondence or formal claim submission. Failing to report damage on-site at the point of receipt significantly complicates the claims process and may affect the outcome of any subsequent review.

The general practice within international air cargo requires that formal damage reports be submitted within seven days from the date of receipt of the shipment. For concerns related to delay, the applicable deadlines under the Montreal Convention, which governs international air carriage, may differ from those applied to physical damage claims. Customers who need to raise a concern after the fact can contact the carrier's customer support through the Help Centre on the official website, which includes a live chat function for real-time assistance. A full directory of local cargo offices and agents is also listed on the official website, providing in-country contact points for claims support in each market.

• First step: Report damage or loss immediately at the destination cargo facility, before the shipment leaves the premises, and obtain a file reference number
• Damage report deadline: Formal damage reports must generally be submitted within 7 days from the date of receipt of the shipment
• Help Centre: Accessible through the carrier's official website, with a live chat option for real-time customer assistance
• General feedback and complaints: Can be submitted through the carrier's official feedback channels available on the website
• Local office directory: A full list of local cargo offices and agents in each market is available on the official website for in-country claims support

Does Qatar Airways Cargo handle international shipments and customs formalities?

Qatar Airways Cargo is by nature an international carrier. The overwhelming majority of shipments involve cross-border movements governed by the customs regulations of both the country of origin and the country of destination. All international shipments require an Air Waybill, which serves as the contract of carriage and the primary customs declaration document. Shippers must provide accurate commodity descriptions, Harmonized System codes, country of origin declarations, declared values, and other required documentation at the time of booking. Incomplete or inaccurate documentation is among the leading causes of customs delay in air freight.

Customs clearance at the destination is the responsibility of the consignee or their appointed customs broker or freight forwarder. Qatar Airways Cargo does not act as a customs agent, but works closely with local handling agents at all network destinations to coordinate smooth clearance arrangements. For shipments entering Qatar, goods must be declared to Qatari customs upon arrival, and HS codes are mandatory for all imports. The country's customs regulations prohibit several categories of goods, including alcoholic beverages except through specific diplomatic channels, controlled substances and narcotics, explosive materials, firearms and ammunition without proper permits, and pork products.

The carrier's QR Pharma product includes full temperature-monitoring and chain-of-custody documentation required for compliance with Good Distribution Practice regulations for pharmaceutical cargo. Qatar Airways Cargo was the first airline in the world to achieve the complete suite of IATA CEIV certifications, covering pharmaceutical handling, fresh produce, live animals, and lithium batteries. Lithium batteries present specific fire risks in air transport and are subject to strict IATA regulations. Qatar Airways Cargo's IATA CEIV Lithium Battery certification places it among a small number of carriers qualified to handle these items under the highest applicable standard. For live animal transports, the carrier holds IATA CEIV Live Animals certification, making it the fourth airline worldwide and the first in the Middle East to have achieved this standard.

Understanding tracking statuses

Qatar Airways Cargo uses an Air Waybill number as the primary tracking reference. All AWB numbers begin with the prefix 157, which is the IATA-assigned prefix for Qatar Airways Cargo, followed by eight digits to form an 11-digit tracking number in the format 157-XXXXXXXX. Customers can track their shipment directly using this number on the carrier's official website. The tracking system provides real-time status updates as the shipment moves through each stage of the transportation chain, from initial booking confirmation at origin to final collection at the destination cargo terminal. Qatar Airways Cargo also participates in third-party tracking platforms used by freight forwarders and logistics providers for additional shipment visibility.