Qatar Airways Cargo appoints R-BAG Group as its new GSA in Central Eastern Europe
Since 1 October 2021, R-BAG Group now represents Qatar Airways Cargo in eight Central Eastern European (CEE) countries: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia. Over the past 20 years, the Budapest, Hungary-based GSSA has established itself as a highly specialised air cargo expert in CEE, and manages locally registered Limited companies in each country.
Qatar Airways Cargo operates several full freighter and passenger-to-cargo conversion mini-freighter connections to Budapest (BUD), Hungary, and Prague (PRG), Czech Republic each week, and serves Sofia (SOF), Bulgaria, Zagreb (ZAG), Croatia, Bucharest (BUH), Romania, and Belgrade (BEG), Serbia, with passenger flights. Bratislava (BTS), Slovakia, and Ljubljana (LJU), Slovenia, tie in to a strong road feeder service network that R-BAG Group provides across entire CEE through its subcontractor, Airline Support International Kft (ASI).
“Qatar Airways Cargo places a strong emphasis on quality and customer-centricity. R-BAG Group has experienced, dedicated teams in all eight countries, and I look forward to their fresh, positive approach and commitment to pushing Qatar Airways Cargo’s business and footprint to the next level,” Rob Veltman, VP Cargo Europe at Qatar Airways, explained. “During the tender presentations, R-BAG Group demonstrated a strong strategic approach through its well-structured headquarter team, as well as a convincing, clear Qatar Airways Cargo business development focus for the region.”
Qatar Airways Cargo’s main markets within CEE are currently the Czech Republic and Hungary, followed by Bulgaria, Slovakia, and Romania. R-BAG Group will promote, sell, and grow Qatar Airways Cargo’s services, in particular its suite of tailored products such as QR Pharma and temperature controlled solutions, linking CEE businesses to the airline’s vast network and other key markets in the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, North and South East Asia, Africa, as well as the Americas.
Eva van Baaren-Horvath, Group Managing Director of R-BAG Group, stated: “Having the world’s leading airline represented by the best regional GSSA company is a perfect match in the interests of both companies, however, the number one winner is certainly the customer. Thanks to the strong partnership and strategical thinking, R-BAG will make every effort to boost Qatar Airways Cargo’s position in the Central Eastern European markets.”
The world’s leading air cargo carrier has built up a strong CEE market connection, in particular, to Hungary over the past 5 years, and, together with R-BAG Group, is now perfectly positioned to sustainably expand its Central Eastern European presence and best support its customers’ businesses in an ever-growing and increasingly important air cargo market.
