Qatar Airways Ltd. and Emirates, already luring passengers from British Airways and Air France, will extend the contest to the $68 billion air-freight market by turning their bases into global cargo hubs.
Emirates, the world’s biggest airline by international passenger traffic, aims to add as many as 18 cargo planes in Dubai, while Doha-based Qatar Air is converting 15 passenger jets to freighters and buying 33 percent of Cargolux Airlines International SA, Europe’s biggest freight-only carrier.
The plans are sounding alarm bells at companies already under pressure as Emirates builds a fleet of 90 superjumbos and Qatar awaits delivery of 200 jets worth $35 billion as part of a bid to persuade travelers to fly via the Gulf instead of London, Paris and Frankfurt. SkyTeam Cargo, which includes the freight arm of Air France-KLM Group, is concerned about the expansion.
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