Qatar Cargo expands animal transport operation with world’s largest airport facility

Qatar Airways Cargo has opened the world’s largest air cargo animal facility at its Doha hub to meet the rising volumes of animals being transported through the airport.

The new facility measures 5,260 sq m compared with 4,000 sq m at the previous animal operation.

It offers 140 dog kennels, 40 cat kennels, 24 horse stables in four separate zones and special areas for day-old chicks, birds, fish, reptiles and exotic animals.

It differs from most airport animal facilities in that it mainly caters for transit shipments and therefore has dedicated rooms for transit and import/export shipments, which have different customs formalities to complete.

The facility also has a large area to handle cattle with pens for vets to examine sheep if required. The cattle area is air conditioned so cattle charters can be transported during the day, rather than just in the evening as with the previous facility.

There are also airside and landside docks for trucks and dollies, the capacity for the induction of 47 ULDs simultaneously, five ULD rooms for built pallets and one room for pallet build and break.

The animal areas are temperature controlled and in certain rooms music is piped in to help calm the animals during their time in the facility.

There are also rooms that can be used flexibly during times of high demand – for instance during the peak falcon season when more than 200 of the birds can be handled in a single day.

Vets work at the facility 24 hours a day to help ensure the animals’ well being.

Meanwhile, the horse stables and loading/unloading areas have soft and non-slip flooring to help avoid injury.

Source: Qatar Airways Cargo

The CEIV live animal certified airline began formulating plans for the new facility in 2020 due to rising demand and also the expansion of the carrier’s fleet, meaning more animals were being transported through Doha.

Horse transport is one area of rising demand as more events are launched around the globe and more people take up horse ownership.

Last year, the airline transported 550,000 animals including 10,000 horses.

The airline said it was important to create a relaxed environment for animals as they can be at the facility for many hours if they are awaiting a transit flight.

The facility first opened on March 12 with animal transport operations being moved over from the existing facility in a phased manner to ease the transition. That transition is now complete.

Qatar Airways Cargo chief officer cargo Mark Drusch described the new facility as incredible and said the largest carrier of animals now had the largest facility to match.

He said that a lot of thought had been put into the emotional aspect of transporting animals, with the facility designed to de-stress them as much as possible.

“We are committed to advocating for [animals] welfare globally, ensuring our operations respect and contribute positively to their overall well-being,” Drusch said.

“This holistic approach to animal care is a fundamental part of our ethos, driving us to innovate and lead the industry.”

Source: Qatar Airways Cargo

In line with the opening of the new animal centre, the airline also announced a series of enhancements to its live animal transport service.

This includes an online calculator tool that determines the ideal kennel size in compliance with IATA Live Animal Regulations (LAR); refined customer service procedures with a dedicated control tower for sensitive shipments; digitalised LAR training to ensure rapid staff compliance; and a pet card service that includes updates and photos of pets during transit.

“With our new animal centre and service enhancements, we are not just setting new standards for animal transport, we’re actively working towards a future where every aspect of our operations reflects a deep respect for animal welfare, embodying our commitment to making a meaningful difference in their lives,” added Drusch.