Etihad Cargo is to operate a special charter consignment of 68 show jumping horses from Belgium to Hong Kong for the annual Longines Masters of Hong Kong taking place from 15-17 February.
This is the third consecutive year that the Abu Dhabi cargo carrier has been entrusted with the transport of these elite horses for the world’s most prestigious show jumping event.
The Boeing 777 Freighter flight from Liège Airport to Hong Kong International Airport will deliver the horses accompanied by a team of professional grooms and a veterinarian for the round-trip journey.
Etihad Cargo’s business development manager for its equine product ‘SkyStables’, Wiam Al Qamshui said: “We are honoured to have been chosen again to look after this very important shipment of prized animals. 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, and today’s announcement comes on the back of a record 2018 that saw us transport over 2,000 horses for the first time”.
Etihad Cargo achieved a number of milestones with SkyStables in 2018, including its largest transportation of 90 horses in one day to participate in major events, as well as the transportation of 99 horses from MIA-AMS, as they returned from the horse racing season in Miami.
The horses for the Longines Masters of Hong Kong will be transported 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.
