Qantas Freight will launch a seasonal freighter service between Darwin and Hong Kong, providing exporters with easier access to Asian markets.
The new services, which will be the only direct link between the Northern Territory and Hong Kong, will provide capacity to carry up to 50 tonnes of fresh produce including chilled meat, seafood, dairy, fruit and vegetables, as well as general cargo.
Starting in late August, the weekly Boeing 767-300 Freighter service will depart Darwin on Sunday night and arrive in Hong Kong six hours later at 11pm local time.
Qantas Freight chief operating officer, Nick McGlynn says: “Producers throughout the Northern Territory often find themselves transporting large volumes of perishables via road to the east coast to meet a cargo connection to Asia. This process can take up to five days, which reduces the shelf life of the product when it arrives at its destination.”
He adds: “Our direct service is a great alternative for freight customers in and around Darwin. It also shows Qantas’s commitment to providing vital connectivity to Northern Australia. We’d like to acknowledge the support of Darwin Airport in launching this new freight service, in collaboration with the Northern Territory Government.”
