Increasing scrutiny in the international movement of animals has led to the growing collaboration of stakeholders across the supply chain. They are focused on planning, standardising processes, and developing trained personnel to avoid stress and harm caused by animals moving by air.
Ensuring the safety and welfare of animals transported by air comes with a lot of challenges including proper handling, routing limitations and creating a suitable environment. However, global air cargo stakeholders are up for the game and have been raising the bar consistently. While there is growing scrutiny in the cross-border movement of animals from a biosecurity perspective, companies, organisations and associations are coming together to share experiences and learnings. Experts are emphatic about proper planning, standardised processes, and trained personnel for safe and stress-free transportation of animals.
There are different concerns and priorities shared by each stakeholder depending upon which part of the supply chain they are responsible for. For instance, the most significant concern for Arun Nair, Product Manager, Etihad Cargo, is the stress animals may endure during the process.
“We ensure that stress levels are minimised by maintaining an ambient temperature from acceptance to delivery, including while onboard our aircraft. Additionally, we strive to reduce excessive shock and noise during transport to and from the aircraft. The availability of trained staff and veterinarians to monitor the animals further ensures their well-being throughout the journey,” he said.
Etihad Cargo has LiveAnimals and SkyStables products to mitigate stress, prevent injuries, and avoid fatalities. There are also different strategies adopted by these companies to mitigate the stress. For example, Etihad Cargo utilises dedicated vehicles specifically designed for bulk hold loading to transport animals between the aircraft and their animal handling facilities.
“This ensures a smooth and less stressful transition for the animals,” said Nair.
Meanwhile, Andre Majeres, Head of E-commerce and Cargo Operations at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) noted that IATA has several key concerns regarding the transportation of live animals by air.
“However,” he said, “the main focus remains to ensure the welfare and safety of the animals through a number of important requirements in the transport process.”
He added, “No stress and no harm during transport is paramount.”
“We ensure that stress levels are minimised by maintaining an ambient temperature from acceptance to delivery, including while onboard our aircraft.”Arun Nair, Etihad Cargo
By planning the journeyWhile it is important to ensure the safety and welfare of animals, the whole process starts with planning. In fact, Majeres thinks that planning the journey is the decisive factor when transporting live animals by air.
Sean Harding, President of the Animal Transportation Association (ATA) agrees with this notion.
Harding said, “The shipper has got to be proficient in air shipping and they need to know the export and import regulations. The receiver needs to know the import regulations, and then the freight forwarder and logistics providers need to know how all those regulations intertwine. And then be able to book the most direct routing with the least amount of transit time, with the most reliable partner getting into and out of the different stations at the right time to monitor temperatures.”
ATA is a Minnesota-based non-profit association dedicated to the safe transportation of animals worldwide and was first established in 1976 as the Animal Air Transportation Association. The members of the association comprise stakeholders from across the live animal supply chain.
Meanwhile, as Majeres puts it, “It involves many parties to be aware of, prepare and comply with their responsibilities. Therefore, communication is vital.”
One of the recent measures that Majeres pointed out happening right now is the adoption of the IATA One Record data exchange standard.
IATA One Record creates a single record view of the shipment.
“This ONE Record standard defines a common data model for the data that is shared via standardised and secured web API. This allows stakeholders to get real-time information, plan or react immediately in case of deviation from the plan, through effective communication and coordination among all parties involved in the transportation process, including airlines, airport staff, ground handlers, veterinarians, and regulatory bodies, to ensure smooth operations,” he said.
David Robson, Managing Director of Equitrans Logistics, which is a Dubai-based specialist in horse transportation and Member of ATA, emphasised that their primary concern is the well-being of the animals throughout their journey by air and are committed to ensuring that every step of the process is designed to minimize stress and risk for the animals.
“This includes maintaining optimal temperature and ventilation during transit, limiting handling to what is absolutely necessary, and ensuring that animals have access to food and water as needed,” he said.
On the same line about planning, Bernard de Boer, International Sales Manager Live at Air France KLM Martinair Cargo who is emphatic about animal welfare pointed out that they need to understand the background of the animal and the purpose of the transport.
He made the policy of Air France KLM Martinair Cargo clear: “We do not transport wildlife animals for trade purposes. We only transport them for breeding purposes between zoos or breeding centres. An exception is the transport of wildlife from organizations like Four Paws or Stichting Leeuw.”
Four Paws is a Vienna-based animal welfare organisation focused on improving the living conditions of animals under direct human influence while the Netherlands-based Stichting Leeuw focused on improving the welfare of big cats by providing shelter and rehabilitating predators to their original habitat.
“I’ve personally seen welfare issues like animals being left outside when they should be in a covered environment or, they are left in a hot environment when they should be in somewhere cooler.”Sean Harding, Animal Transportation Association (ATA)
By standardising processesWhile planning needs to be comprehensive and thoughtful, the same is the case with execution. There are several processes defined by the regulators and associations to make it obvious. For instance, de Boer informed that they perform a physical check when the animals are delivered to one of the stations from which they fly.
“This is done per IATA LAR (Live Animal Requirements) and our LAAC (Live Animals Accepting Checklist),” he said.
IATA LAR provides the minimum standard for transporting live animals by air, while LAAC is a standardised checklist that helps verify all necessary requirements.
“During this check, the handling company acting on our behalf will verify that the animals are in good condition, that the documents are correct, and that the crate or kennel meets the requirements set out in the IATA LAR,” added de Boer.
Adhering to international regulations and standards, such as the LAR set by IATA, is necessary to maintain consistency and safety across different jurisdictions and airlines.
Majeres informed that IATA has now finished authoring the 51st edition of the LAR (2025) which has been completely revamped.
“This edition comes with a handling section which now follows the recommended Master Operating Plan (MOP), the 19 door-to-door steps from shipper to consignee, describing the processes in the journey of a shipment,” he said.
“IATA, with the partnership of the Convention for International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), has significantly raised the bar of compliance by updating 2000 entries in the list of species,” he added.
CITES is an international agreement that aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species.
de Boer also informed that they verify if the animals are accompanied by CITES documents. “CITES, based in Geneva, is the only organisation that approves the transport of protected wildlife. They coordinate with local offices around the world to manage this process,” he said.
“It involves many parties to be aware of, prepare and comply with their responsibilities. Therefore, communication is vital.”Andre Majeres, IATA
By facing scrutiny head-onThere have been several important regulatory updates aimed at enhancing animal welfare during air transport and talking about them, Robson said, “IATA has recently updated its Live Animals Regulations, which include new guidelines on container design, species-specific handling procedures, and mandatory training for staff.”
He also reported that they are also seeing a trend towards stricter biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of diseases, which now often includes mandatory health checks and certifications prior to transportation.
These updates reflect a broader effort to align global standards and ensure that animal welfare is prioritised across all regions. One recent key development was the upgrade of South Africa for the export of horses directly to Europe without lengthy quarantine periods and transit through Mauritius as the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has approved direct exports from South Africa to Europe.
“We hope to see direct exports to the Middle East which opens new markets,” Robson added.
Biosecurity measures adopted by different countries in isolation can affect the movements of live animals by air and create adverse operational situations for airlines, in particular. For instance, on May 13, 2024, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a final rule effective 1 August 2024 that makes changes to the importation requirements for dogs into the United States to address the public health risk associated with dog-maintained rabies virus variant (DMRVV). Among this rule’s requirements impacting airlines, one provision imposes on airlines to create an air waybill (AWB) for all dogs entering the United States via air, including dogs transported as cargo, hand-carried, and as checked baggage.
Majeres informed that following joint action by IATA and other associations, CDC has recognised that the requirement to issue an AWB for dogs that are hand-carried or checked as baggage is an issue.
“Consequently, all airlines can apply immediately for a waiver to the AWB on a provisional basis. CDC will grant a waiver on a provisional basis based on a request from the air carrier that will be valid for 90 days. During this 90-day period, air carriers must complete their waiver application and submit all required documentation,” he explained.
“Once complete, CDC will decide regarding the completed waiver application. If granted, the waiver will be extended so that it is valid for a period of 9 months from issuance of the provisional waiver. If denied, air carriers will no longer be able to transport dogs without an AWB,” he added.
Majeres also pointed out that there is growing scrutiny on animal transport from regulatory bodies around the world and compliance from all stakeholders’ angles has become complex, sometimes resulting in penalties.
“In order to facilitate live animal transportation IATA has initiated the development of a modern automated online solution called “LAR VERIFY” & the related APIs with a vision to continue the development of the AutoCheck concepts,” he said.
“The handling company will verify that the animals are in good condition, that the documents are correct, and that the crate or kennel meets the requirements set out in the IATA LAR.”Bernard de Boer, Air France KLM Martinair Cargo
By sharing experience, knowledgeWhile there are updates in the regulatory framework and increased scrutiny, the way to go is by collaborating with other stakeholders and cooperating. On the same line, de Boer observes that most airlines focus on working with organisations such as ATA and are members of these organisations.
Air France KLM Martinair Cargo is also a board member of the IATA LAPB (IATA Live Animals and Perishables Board), where representatives from various communities meet twice a year at a conference.
“During these conferences, attendees can provide feedback on transportation practices. Based on this feedback, the IATA LAPB board may adjust the regulations. Compliance with the regulations in IATA LAR is mandatory. Local authorities regard these requirements as legal standards, and non-compliance can result in fines or penalties,” he said.
Sharing his experience, Nair of Etihad Cargo reflected that there is a cultural shift and change in attitudes of people that is influencing the movement of animals by air.
“Pet adoption rates have remained high post-pandemic, indicating a cultural shift towards greater acceptance of companion animals. This trend is not limited to traditionally strong markets but is also gaining traction in emerging markets across South East and South Asia, Central Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Eastern Europe,” he observed.
Beyond pets, there has been increasing activity in the global transportation of horses.
Nair added, “Etihad Cargo transports horses globally via our SkyStables product, supporting the cultural importance of horses in the Middle East. We have also been involved in major global equine events, supported by our specialised stalls and a trained, dedicated team for equine and live animal transport.”
By training to handle with careRegulatory evolution and adapting to new standards set by authorities is an ongoing process aimed at continuous improvement. However, one of the important pieces among these is the people who handle the live animals on the go.
For instance, Equitrans Logistics ensures the safety and welfare of animals by having their Equitrans grooms and attendants accompany all their shipments from stable to stable and for larger shipments they always have a veterinarian accompany the horses.
“We also place a strong emphasis on training our personnel to understand and meet the specific needs of different species, which is crucial for ensuring their safety and comfort throughout the flight,” he said.
Majeres also said that proper training of personnel involved in the handling of live animals is crucial which includes understanding the specific needs and behaviours of different species and knowing how to handle them safely.
By raising the barThe training of people handling live animals is crucial not just because of the expertise required but also because of the evolving nature of the market, regulations and new challenges coming in. For instance, Robson reported that recently, they have observed a significant shift towards innovation and specialization in the transport of live animals by air.
“There has been an increase in the movement of exotic and endangered species, which requires a high level of expertise and care. To support this, we are seeing more widespread adoption of advanced monitoring technology, such as IoT devices that allow us to track real-time conditions like temperature and location,” he said.
“Additionally, many stakeholders are investing in specialised animal care teams and facilities at key airports to ensure that animals are well-cared for during layovers and transits. We’re also optimising our operations by using shorter, more direct transit routes and reducing loading times to minimise any potential stress for the animals,” he added.
Many air cargo stakeholders from airports to airlines and shipping agents are continuously finding improvements as the live animals’ market grows by air.
Robson said, “This includes providing better loading and transit facilities for live animals and horses at airports, veterinarian checks on animals before being exported if they have travelled up by road, ensuring the animals can rest at airport facilities before export, improving loading and offloading facilities.”
“Many airlines optimise their flight schedules to minimise layovers and transit times by diversions, providing more direct routes that shorten the overall journey,” he added.
“There has been an increase in the movement of exotic and endangered species, which requires a high level of expertise and care.”David Robson, Equitrans Logistics
By identifying challenges aheadHarding of ATA also raised routing limitations as one of the concerns they deal with along with creating the ideal environment and challenges in ground handling.
“As an association, we want to try to bring all of the stakeholders together to do more education to let the industry solve some of the concerns that we see. We apply soft pressure to airlines to make sure that they’re moving as many commodities as possible,” he said.
For instance, in a July 30, 2024, LinkedIn article published by Equitrans Logistics, the company explains how the equine industry has been facing challenges due to London Heathrow Airport tightening restrictions and limiting operations for cargo flights.
“Shipping horses requires specialised equipment and comfort, and delays or longer travel time can lead to stress for the animals. With limited freighter options in the UK horse shipping agents such as Equitrans find it increasingly difficult to operate efficiently. The delays and logistical challenges linked with transporting horses have raised concerns about animal welfare and performance, as horses may not arrive in optimal condition for races, polo, show jumping or breeding purposes,” it reads.
There are many other challenges that ATA is trying to address in live animal transportation and, in fact, Harding calls the ground handlers the most inconsistent piece of air transport.
“Because they have the greatest influence on the shipments from when it is handed to them, till it gets palletised, till it gets onto the plane, till it gets loaded off the plane. I’ve personally seen welfare issues like animals being left outside when they should be in a covered environment or, they are left in a hot environment when they should be in somewhere cooler. It could be documentation issues that aren’t handled correctly. It could be labelling issues that aren’t handled correctly. It could be a forklift not handled correctly and damages a crate, which becomes a biosecurity issue,” he said.
While there are lots of possibilities for mistakes, animal transportation by air is also evolving and stakeholders are committed to offering a better life for animals moving in the air who always deserve ideal environment conditions and to be handled with care.
This was originally published in the August 2024 issue of The STAT Trade Times.
