• The Airport is Really a Zoo

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    Frankfurt International Airport Animal Lounge

     

     

     

     

    Wouldn’t you like a transatlantic flight which included good food, your own cubicle for rest and even medical care? You might also include a drive to the airport and boarding privately.

    Each year Frankfurt Airport handles 110 million (80 million of those being ornamental fish) animals in its animal facility in Frankfurt International airport. Receiving this treatment are more than 2000 horses and 15,000 dogs and cats.
    It is expected that Kennedy Airport in New York will open a similar facility in 2015 often named the “Ark”. This will include webcams for pet owners to check on their beloved animal and also a GPS shipping tracking. This big business has encouraged United Airlines to dedicated staff to handle the travelers in major cities that United serves.
    A very funny fact is that Lufthansa admits that their animal lounge is twice as large as its First Class Terminal at Frankfurt Intl. Frankfurt is really the gold standard of departure points for animals but it does come at a price. A dogs passage may cost $700 from Frankfurt to JFK airport and a horse about $4000.

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    Many transatlantic animals travel on regular scheduled flights rather than cargo planes. The human passenger may be flying with some exotic beasts such as cheetah beneath them in the cargo hold.
    Cargo handlers get special animal training when they go to work in the lounge. It is a popular place to work, much more so than the usual lifting boxes of a cargo job. However, there is the danger of bites.
    There are a few deaths for animals who travel. It is stressful on them and this can cause breathing issues and sometimes temperature issues. Animals are required to be in good health before setting out on flight. And, transport is restricted during times of intense heat.

     

    images-1Endangered species can be moved by air transport but Lufthansa says it is only with certificates from one certified zoo to another one that is certified.

    Large marine animals are restricted from air transport because of the danger of large tanks leaking which could be a problem for the animals health and the safety of the aircraft.

    The love of a pet animal, the interest in the endanger species and the need to have animals moved for commercial interests (movies and zoos) and for sport has created a $40 million business for Lufthansa.

     German Olympic gold medal rider Ludgers Beerbraum's horse Goldfever


    German Olympic gold medal rider Ludgers Beerbraum’s horse Goldfever

    Sources:

    Wall Street Journal article by Scott McCartney