The cargo divisions of Qatar Airways, Malaysia Airlines and IAG Group, parent company of British Airways, are preparing to commercially launch their joint cargo venture in the coming weeks after a year's delay. Qatar Airways Cargo, MASkargo and IAG Cargo have completed the first trial shipment transported across all three carriers.

Qatar Airways is wholly owned by the State of Qatar and reported group revenue of $23.6 billion for the year to March 2025. Malaysia Airlines is operated by Malaysia Aviation Group, majority owned by Malaysian sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional, which reported revenue of RM13.68 billion (approximately €2.7 billion) for 2024. IAG, parent of British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling and LEVEL, is listed on the London Stock Exchange and reported revenue of €32.1 billion for 2024, with Qatar Airways itself holding a 26.5 percent stake in the group.

The trilateral shipment involved 12.1 tonnes of copper foil transported from Kuala Lumpur to Chicago O'Hare International Airport via Qatar Airways' hub in Doha and Dublin, Ireland. Copper foil is a key component for advanced electronics and electric vehicle battery production.

The structural driver is the scarcity of full cargo partnerships that go beyond interline agreements, with the three carriers combining route networks and belly-hold capacity to offer coordinated shipping across more than 400 destinations.

The three airlines announced their global cargo joint business in April 2025, originally scheduled to debut late last year. Qatar Airways Cargo operates 30 Boeing 777 cargo jets and manages belly-hold capacity across the parent company's 240 passenger aircraft, while MASkargo operates a fleet of three Airbus A330-200 cargo jets alongside belly capacity on passenger aircraft.

Mark Drusch, chief cargo officer at Qatar Airways, said, "For our customers, this is about creating a simpler, more connected experience and demonstrates the strength of our collaboration. By combining our complementary networks and expertise, we are building a truly global cargo offering that delivers greater reach, more routing flexibility and enhanced efficiency."

For the sector, the trial shipment illustrates growing appetite among major carriers for deep cargo integration beyond traditional interline agreements, positioning Dublin as a key connecting hub in the emerging network.

Source: FreightWaves