Etihad’s poetry in the skies

BEETHOVEN, Darwin, Einstein and Michelangelo are not the usual passengers you would expect to see on an Etihad Airways flight.

But this month the airline carried more than 100 historic manuscripts written by these and other historical figures from Berlin’s State Library in Germany to the National Library of Australia in Canberra.

The treasures span 1,000 years of human history, feature exquisite illuminated manuscripts, rare letters, sketches, documents and priceless musical scores, each handwritten by major figures in literature, religion, science, music, exploration and philosophy.

The manuscripts were specially packed in tailor-made, humidity-controlled cargo crates for the exhibition: “Handwritten: Ten Centuries of Manuscript Treasures from Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin” from 26 November to 18 March.

Art handlers accompanied the cargo on the flights, carrying the most precious artefacts in protected hand-carry cases.

“This successful logistics operation further proves Etihad Airways’ ability to provide premium and secure logistical solutions for our partners and customers and we are delighted to have played our part in coordinating and providing this service,” Roy Kinnear, senior vice-president Cargo at Etihad Airways, said.

Over 100,000 visitors are expected to visit the Canberra exhibition over the four-month period. Once the exhibition ends, Etihad will freight the cargo back to the Berlin State Library.

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