Etihad jumps at the chance for a third Longines Masters horse charter
05 / 02 / 2019
Etihad Cargo will again fly horses from Belgium to Hong Kong for the annual Longines Masters indoor show jumping event.
It is the third consecutive year that the Middle East freighter operator, based in Abu Dhabi, has been entrusted with the transport of the elite show jumpers for the event.
The dedicated charter flight from Liège Airport to Hong Kong International Airport, in co-operation with equestrian events organiser EEM World, will deliver 68 horses accompanied by grooms and a veterinarian for the round-trip journey.
The horses for the Longines Masters of Hong Kong will be transported on a Boeing 777 freighter equipped with a specially designed ventilation structure and temperature control system, two vital components when transporting horses.
It is also equipped with EASA- and FAA certified-horse air stalls. Designed with non-slip floors which are covered with absorbent materials, the stalls are stocked with hay and water for the horses to remain fed and hydrated throughout the flight.
Wiam Al Qamshui, business development manager for Etihad Cargo’s equine SkyStables product, said: “In the five years since our SkyStables product was introduced, Etihad Cargo has become one of the industry’s most experienced specialist equine carriers.
“We move horses all around the world from places like Barbados, Bogota and Japan, as well as the key Europe and Middle East equine markets.”
He continued: “Today’s announcement comes on the back of a record 2018 that saw us transport over 2,000 horses for the first time.”
Christophe Ameeuw, founder and chief executive of EEM, said: “The horses flying to Hong Kong are the stars of our show and without them there would be no Longines Masters of Hong Kong. We are delighted to entrust the safety and care of these world class show jumping horses to Etihad Cargo this year again.”
Etihad Cargo achieved a number of milestones with SkyStables in 2018, including its largest transportation of 90 horses in one day, as well as the transportation of 99 horses to Amsterdam as they returned from the horse racing season in Miami.
