Lufthansa Cargo flew 65 horses from Frankfurt to Tehran, Iran.
The Boeing 777F’s entire main deck was filled with 22 horse stalls. The plan took off Monday at 10:06 p.m. Frankfurt time.
Hours before, the stud and competition horses had checked in at Lufthansa Cargo’s Frankfurt Animal Lounge and then been accommodated in new horse containers.
“The bright, friendly interiors make travel more comfortable, and the horses are also more willing to enter the unfamiliar containers,” said Axel Heitmann, who heads up the Frankfurt Animal Lounge. “The sandwich floor with two plates means these sensitive animals hardly feel the vibrations during loading. At the end of the day, we want our four-legged guests to enjoy the most comfortable transport experience possible.”
Agricon-Logistic GmbH & Co.KG was the horse shipper responsible for the transport.
“Even for us, as the market leader in horse transports to the Middle East, a charter flight with 65 horses is always a highlight in daily operations,” Christian Nagel, owner of Agricon-Logistic, said. “We planned the transport meticulously with Lufthansa Cargo over several weeks.”
The mares and stallions were kept separate so as not to cause unnecessary stress during the flight. The female animals were placed at the rear of the aircraft, while their male counterparts were kept to the fore of the deck.
Professional horse attendants from Agricon-Logistic and a veterinarian also traveled on the flight to ensure the horses’ safety. The vet and care staff had access to the horses at all times in order to replenish water and hay supplies.