Qantas to launch Freighter Service to Shanghai

Qantas announced today that it would start operating a direct freighter service to Shanghai on 13 February 2004.

A wet-leased Polar 747-400 Freighter will fly twice weekly out of Sydney (Tuesday and Friday), operating to Singapore, Shanghai and Chicago.

The Qantas Shanghai freighter service was made possible by the recent air services agreement between Australia and China that provides for unlimited freight rights between the two countries.

The agreement means Qantas is the first Australian carrier to be granted "fifth-freedom rights" for freight in Shanghai.

Qantas General Manager Commercial Freight, Stephen Cleary, said the 747-400 Freighter had a capacity of 110,000kg, and 30 main deck and nine lower deck positions.

"This new service will cater to the growing demand for capacity generated by China's economic boom and Shanghai's emerging position as a leading hub in the Asia region," Mr Cleary said.

It is anticipated that the service will carry perishable goods out of Australia and a large variety of manufactured goods including computer parts and garments out of China bound for the US.

In conjunction with the new freighter service, a Qantas Freight sales office has been opened in Shanghai.