Doha, Qatar
Qatar Airways Cargo opened its newest animal centre . At 5,260 square metres, it is the world’s largest animal facility and is situated close to the Qatar Airways Aircraft Maintenance Hangar and Hamad International Airport.
By making an investment in the new facility, Qatar Airways Cargo, the world’s biggest animal carrier, demonstrated its dedication to animal welfare. It created new standards for the transportation of live animals when it reintroduced its Next Generation Live offering concurrently with the opening.
“We have built here now a 5-star facility for any of the live animals that are transporting, and we didn’t just spend a lot of money to build this facility – physical facility,” marked Drusch, Chief Officer of Cargo at Qatar Airways, emphasised the emotional side of animal travel. We carefully considered the issue of meeting the emotional needs of animals. We’ve made every effort to reduce animals’ stress levels since travelling is unpleasant for them and we want them to have a better experience than they would have anywhere else, Drusch told The Peninsula.
“I believe all of you will feel more than comfortable sending your dogs here in the future. We are a five-star airline, with a five-star airport.
After four and a half years of development, the facility offers cutting-edge amenities catered to various animal demands as well as round-the-clock veterinarian care. Forty cat kennels and 140 dog kennels can be accommodated there. Additionally, there are 24 horse stables spread across four zones, each with its own airflow to ensure appropriate segregation.
Additionally, it features specialised sections with a variety of creatures, such as fish, birds, reptiles, exotic species, and day-old chicks.
Modern features at the Advanced Animal Centre include several docks for effective operation and advanced HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems. The facility can accommodate up to 47 Unit Load Device (ULD) locations, making it capable of precisely and carefully managing a wide range of animal transportation requirements.
Drusch also emphasised the comprehensive approach to animal care used by Qatar Airways Cargo, saying, “We recognise our responsibility extends far beyond the mere transportation of animals.” We pledge to uphold their welfare on a global scale and make sure that our operations respect and enhance their general well-being. Our culture is based on this all-encompassing approach to animal care, which motivates us to lead the industry and innovate.”
10,000 horses are among the more than 550,000 animals that Qatar Airways Cargo has flown as of 2023.
Meanwhile, the Next Generation Live product has undergone new enhancements, such as the Kennel Calculator Tool, which determines the ideal kennel size to guarantee comfort and compliance with IATA Live Animals Regulations (LAR); Streamlined Customer Service: For the most delicate shipments, protocols have been improved to enable quicker and more effective customer interactions with a specialised Control Tower; Digitalized IATA LAR Training: Provides quick compliance and improves staff competency in managing animals; Pet Card Service: Maintains a personal touch by providing updates and pictures of pets while in transit, improving customer satisfaction and reducing anxiety.