As Christmas shopping kicks into high gear, Qantas Freight is getting into the festive spirit by introducing a specially decorated ‘Santa’s Freight’ aircraft to support the holiday shipping season.
The airline anticipates delivering more than 50,000 tonnes of freight both domestically and internationally. Overall volumes are expected to rise by five percent compared to last year, driven by continued growth in online shopping.
Qantas Freight Ramps Up Operations
To ensure gifts reach their destinations and holiday tables are stocked, Qantas Freight is significantly ramping up its operations. The freighter fleet will log approximately 550 additional flying hours across the domestic network in November and December. This is the equivalent to 23 full days of continuous operation.
These extra flight hours will add 3,000 tonnes of domestic capacity. Think of it as comparable to transporting 12,000 fully-grown reindeer to cities and regional locations throughout Australia!
In a festive touch, one of the six Qantas Freight A321 freighters has been adorned with a new ‘Santa’s Freight’ livery. The cheerful design celebrates the season and highlights the massive quantities of packages, mail, and quintessential Australian products – from seafood to seasonal produce and Christmas puddings – that will be transported during the peak period.
Christmas Logistics Operations
Igor Kwiatkowski, Executive Manager of Qantas Freight, emphasized the critical nature of the Christmas logistics operations. “Santa and his elves prepare to distribute gifts worldwide. Meanwhile, we’ve been working to ready our fleet of ‘freight sleighs’,” he explained.
“We’ve increased flying hours and expanded capacity to deliver more than 50 million kilos of freight this Christmas. Flying gifts, cards, and perishables like mangoes and prawns across Australia and beyond.”
The airline’s freight network is extensive, comprising five international freighters and cargo space in passenger aircraft across Qantas and Jetstar networks. Domestically, Qantas Freight operates 20 freighters. This includes 12 dedicated to major partner Australia Post, which will increase to 16 during the holiday period.
Domestic Fleet
The domestic fleet is set to cover an impressive 11 million kilometers this year – roughly equivalent to 745 trips from Hobart to the North Pole. During the busiest pre-Christmas days, the global network will transport around 1 million kilograms of cargo daily, representing a 70 percent increase from typical daily volumes.
Beyond traditional packages, Qantas Freight will transport a diverse range of critical cargo essential for making the holidays memorable:
- Fresh produce including mangoes, cherries, strawberries, and stone fruit
- An array of seafood – live, fresh, and frozen lobsters, coral trout, mussels, abalone, and prawns
- Premium meats such as beef, pork, and lamb
- Fresh-cut flowers for festive table decorations
- Dairy products like milk, yoghurt, and cheese
- Performance vehicles, including cars and F1 racing machines
- Critical supplies ranging from aircraft engines to rescue helicopters and essential medicines
This comprehensive approach ensures that Qantas Freight plays a pivotal role in connecting Australians and supporting businesses during the most wonderful time of the year.
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