Animal magic
12 / 06 / 2013
ALTHOUGH animal transportation is unlikely to ever be a hugely lucrative source of revenue in the way, say, perishables or pharmaceuticals are, it is an air cargo subject not to be sniffed at.
Lufthansa Cargo (LC) says this particular market is very stable and virtually crisis-proof, despite the fact that its animal department generates only €30million in annual revenues and has a growth rate of just one per cent.
But, a newly-developed ‘convertible’ horsebox that, along with its wholly-owned subsidiary ULD management firm Jettainer and VRR Aviation, the leading Euro-pean carrier has created, bears testament to how committed Lufthansa Cargo is to investing in this area.
The new container, designed to house up to three horses, gives 20cm more space and is lined with plastic materials that better protect the animals against temperature fluctuations. Other features include non-slip floors – making loading and maneuvering safer.
“This container is a big step forward because it is possible to transport the entire empty horse containers back in passenger aircraft holds, because of the folding roof,” reveals an LC spokesman.
Read the Animals-by-air feature in full in the next edition of Air Cargo News 17 June 2013 – Issue No 754
