Qatar Airways Ramps Up Pet Handling Cargo Services

Qatar Airways has scaled up its live animal handling facilities, enabling the airline to handle an increasing number of animals flying as cargo on its flights.

Growing Number of Animals on Flights 

Airlines are often involved in flying live animals on their aircraft. Flying an animal – be it a pet or a wild animal – is quite a task, involving intensive organization and compliance.

That said, once the animals are in the airline’s care, owners and guardians want to be sure that their animals will arrive safely at the destination.

The number of animals Qatar Airways transports is increasing each year. Last year the airline transported more than 550,000 animals, including 9,500 horses.

Qatar Airways’ Animal Center 

Qatar Airways has recently opened a new animal center to facilitate the carriage of live animals. The launch of the facility is a milestone for Qatar Airways, which says it follows a holistic approach to animal care and welfare.

The facility is the largest and newest in the world. It greatly enhances the experience for all animals arriving in or transiting through Doha’s Hamad International Airport. 

The 5,260 sqm facility is equipped with many features, including:

• A modern “Groom’s Room” attendant lounge for specialists accompanying animals, providing a comfortable living space within the animal center.
• Fully temperature-controlled facility.
• Manned by trained veterinary staff.
• Kennel Capacity: 140 dog kennels and 40 cat kennels.
• Horse Stables: 24 stables distributed in five zones with separate airflows for proper segregation.
• Separate rooms for birds, live fish, reptiles, day-old chicks and animals loaded on unit load devices.
• Airside interface with five truck docks and six dolly docks (for horses and livestock).

The new facility is designed to ensure that live animals are assured of seamless and comfortable journeys by air.

To ensure peace of mind for pet owners Qatar Airways offers an exclusive pet card service, where the carrier informs customers how their pet is doing on the journey. In addition, it will provide a photo of the animal in Qatar’s care.

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Lorne Philipot

Lorne is a South Africa-based aviation journalist. He was captivated and fascinated by flying from the day he took his first airline flight. With a passion for aviation in his blood, he has flown to destinations in all corners of the globe. Lorne has traveled extensively and lived in various countries. Drawing on his travels and passion for aviation, Lorne enjoys writing about airlines, routes, networks, and new developments.

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