Qantas Freight expects a 5% rise in Christmas volumes, driven by booming online shopping, with over 50,000 tonnes of freight anticipated.
Qantas Freight anticipates a 5% increase in volumes for the Christmas period compared to last year, driven by the ongoing boom in online shopping.
The cargo division of the Australian airline stated earlier in December that it expects to deliver over 50,000 tonnes of international and domestic freight during this busy festive peak.
To accommodate this surge, Qantas Freight has planned approximately 550 additional flying hours across its domestic network in November and December, which is equivalent to 23 days of continuous flying, according to London's Air Cargo News.
This increase in operational days is expected to add 3,000 tonnes of domestic capacity, comparable to transporting 12,000 fully-grown reindeer to cities and regional ports across Australia.
In addition to mail and Australian-made gifts, the Christmas peak is predicted to include seafood, fresh produce, and flowers. There will also be a continued demand for critical supplies such as medicines, cars, Formula 1 vehicles, aircraft engines, and rescue helicopters.
Qantas Freight operates globally with five international freighters and utilizes passenger aircraft belly space across the Qantas and Jetstar networks.
Additionally, Qantas Freight manages 20 domestic freighters, including a core fleet of 12 dedicated freighters for major partner Australia Post, which will increase to 16 during the Christmas period.
This domestic freighter fleet is expected to cover more than 11 million kilometers this year, which is equivalent to approximately 745 trips from Hobart to the North Pole.
On the busiest days leading up to Christmas, Qantas Freight will carry around 1 million kilograms of cargo per day, representing a 70% increase over its usual daily uplift.
To celebrate the festive season, one of the six Qantas Freight A321 freighters has been adorned with a new 'Santa's Freight' livery.
