It was a decade ago that Lufthansa Cargo’s Frankfurt Animal Lounge was opened, and the anniversary was celebrated with LH Cargo customers and other partners at the famous Opel Zoo on September 18th.
It’s almost hard to believe that during the past ten years over more than a ‘billion' animals of all shapes and sizes have passed through the LH Animal Lounge at FRA Airport. Lufthansa Cargo
claims that the animal lounge is the biggest of its kind in Europe as well as also being one of the world’s largest.
From big to small
Animals which are processed or pass through there are always considered as being guests and receive special personal attention. The majority are said to be tropical or ornamental fish, of which
80 million or so pass through there each year. But, there are many others, ranging from tall giraffes, heavyweight hippopotamuses, slender African deer and day-to-day ordinary cats and dogs which
have received attention. The most famous guests were the two Chinese pandas Meng Meng and Jiao Qing in 2017 which were a present from China’s President Xi Jingping to German Chancellor, Angela
Merkel.
Premium ‘guests’
The Animal Lounge is also particularly well equipped for horses. 42 large animal stalls with up to 28 square metres of space are available on the ground for some 2,000 animals that pass through
annually, while new, premium-quality horse containers are used inflight. Lufthansa’s cargo division actually has more than 30 years of experience of handling hoofed animals. The premium
partnership with the German Equestrian Federation (FN) emphasises Lufthansa Cargo’s special expertise in transporting sports, breeding and leisure horses.
The facility combines all areas – handling, animal coordination and veterinary services – under one roof over approximately 4,000 square metres.
If animals require medicines, special food or the like, these requests can also be accommodated. 50 employees and qualified animal caretakers ensure round-the-clock care for their special
‘guests.’
John Mc Donagh