Liege’s LACHS ‘inn’ the saddle for the Olympic Games

Liege Air Cargo Handling Services (LACHS) has been awarded a three-year contract to manage the Horse Inn at Liege Airport.
The Horse Inn is intended for horses being transported by air and to accommodate them during transit by road. It represents a total investment of €2.6m.
The new infrastructure is designed to upgrade Liege’s overall service provision for the transportation of live horses, which is set to increase ahead of the summer Olympics. 
Yossi Shoukroun, LACHS general manager, said: “Global horse transport movements are so frequent that it is almost impossible to know the exact market size."
“However, the transport of horses for pleasure and sport is a rapidly growing market, and air travel makes the horses’ lives easier. As experts in the transport of non-standard cargo such as live animals, we have invested a tremendous amount to ensure top-of-the-line infrastructure for this valuable cargo.”
LACHS — fully owned by Israel’s CAL Group which also operates a freighter airline — specialises in dedicated charters as well as scheduled routes, and has experience in complex equine projects, including multiple charters of horses. 
LACHS maintains specialised flooring for horses, collapsible horse stalls and both standard and custom built crates for smaller animals. Often, the horse groom or escort will fly along with the animal, taking care of feeding and proactive care.
With a view to developing this particular sector, Liege Airport has called on recognised experts, including Grégory Wathelet, the Belgian no 1 show jumper and European runner-up, and Félix-Marie Brasseur, twice world individual driving four-in-hand champion.
José Happart, Liege Airport Vice President, said: “This is a significant investment which is part of the services our airport offers to its clients.
"For some years now, Liege Airport has set the standard in the transport of horses and live animals, and LACHS exceeded our expectations in terms of organisation, technical needs, facilities, costs and marketing. We are improving and diversifying our strengths so that horse owners, riders and grooms are fully satisfied."
An Animals by Air feature will appear in the next edition of Air Cargo News (June 13)