KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 19): MASkargo, the air cargo arm of Malaysia Aviation Group, on Tuesday said it has entered into a strategic partnership with Qatar Airways Cargo to enhance its global connectivity and operational efficiency.

The partnership, initiated on Oct 1, has successfully facilitated 2,400 tonnes of cargo, including over 600 tonnes of perishables and 130 tonnes of pharmaceuticals, MASkargo and Qatar Airways Cargo said in a joint statement.

“The agreement benefits both parties, allowing MASkargo to access key points in Europe, GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council), Levant and Africa, while Qatar Airways Cargo gains increased capacity access to Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia,” they said.

The connectivity expansion will also support the local market in Kuala Lumpur by enabling the export of products to more global markets, they noted.

“Qatar Airways Cargo Boeing 777 flights now fly from Doha to Kuala Lumpur twice a week, increasing weekly cargo capacity by over 200 tonnes,” they said.

Meanwhile, MASkargo Airbus A330 will be carrying more than 75 tonnes of weekly cargo capacity to Sydney and Melbourne, with a swift eight-hour transit time in Kuala Lumpur.

“This partnership represents a significant advancement in MASkargo’s mission to connect our customers to the world with increased speed and efficiency. With this partnership, MASkargo is now better positioned than ever to serve as a bridge between Southeast Asia and key international destinations,” MASkargo chief executive officer Mark Jason Thomas said.

Thomas said the alliance will also strengthen the group’s infrastructure and capacity to support the regional economy, facilitate the movement of high-demand goods to a larger global market, and set new standards in cargo transportation.

“As the world’s leading global air cargo carrier, this partnership with MASkargo is a testament to our commitment to providing exceptional service and tailored solutions while expanding our global network through sponsorships,” said Qatar Airways Cargo chief officer cargo Mark Drusch.

Prior to the latest partnership, MASkargo and Qatar Airways Cargo had entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in July this year to enhance their product offering for cargo customers and achieve operational synergies.

Apart from cargo, Malaysia Airlines and Qatar Airways have a strong partnership on the passenger side to provide seamless travel. Their codeshare agreement includes 62 destinations across Malaysia, Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, and Africa, the statement read.