Qatar Airport Cargo Surge Cushions Blow From Saudi-Led Embargo
- Air-freight volumes climb following closure of land border
- Passenger tally slumps as flights down 17% since boycott
The Emir terminal at Hamad International Airport in Doha.
Photographer: Valery Sharifulin/TASS via Getty Images
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Qatar’s Hamad International Airport may be struggling with dropping passenger numbers amid a travel and trade ban imposed by rival Arab states, but the embargo has spurred air-freight volumes to record highs.
The closure of the Middle East nation’s only land border with Saudi Arabia has led to an airlift-style operation to safeguard the supply of goods and produce spanning fresh milk to industrial gear previously transported by truck, Badr Mohammed Al Meer, the airport’s chief operating officer, said in an interview.