Qatar Airways Cargo Awarded IATA CEIV Certification

Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways Cargo announced Wednesday that its strict adherence to the highest standards and relevant regulations has been accredited CEIV Live Animals certification by IATA.

"We are the fourth airline worldwide to become CEIV Live Animals certified, and the first in the Middle East. This certification is testament to the dedication and detail that we put into transporting the many different live animals that are placed in our custody. Whether they are horses, household pets, livestock, or exotic animals transported on our scheduled and charter flights or wild animals being flown under our WeQare Rewild the Planet initiative, we go beyond the required regulatory standards, to ensure that the animals are given the utmost care and comfort for the entire duration of the journey," the Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways Guillaume Halleux explained.

"The CEIV Live Animals certification depicts that our handling, infrastructure, quality management, and training framework are in line with industry standards. It highlights our compliance with the IATA Live Animal Regulations alongside the Transportation of Wildlife and Animal Welfare (TWAW) Group Policy, and it shows that we have a robust supplier management system in place, allowing our principles to be implemented globally. Further, it illustrates our commitment to continuously improving industry standards when it comes to the transportation of live animals, and we thank the IATA auditors for their constructive contribution in this regard," he added.

"Having Qatar Airways, one of the largest transporters of live animals, achieve CEIV Live Animals certification is a significant boost not only for the airlines customers, who can be confident that their precious cargo will arrive safely, but also the region. We congratulate them on their achievement and their pioneering efforts in the safe transportation of live animals including wild animals through their WeQare initiative," said Brendan Sullivan, IATA's Global Head of Cargo.

The certification applies at Qatar Airways Doha headquarters and the QAS Cargo Doha hub, and covers all animals (amphibians, birds, crustaceans, fish, invertebrates, mammals, or reptiles) that Qatar Airways Cargo is authorized to carry as per each respective relevant procedure. Today, around 9 per cent of all live animals transported globally by air, travel on board a Qatar Airways flight.

The cargo airline runs a 4,200 m, air-conditioned, state-of-the-art Live Animal Centre at Hamad International Airport, Doha, which includes dedicated holding areas for animals, horse stalls, pet kennels, access to 24/7 dedicated expert animal health care services, and a large 300 m paddock. Trained staff and pilots make every effort to ensure that the animals experience as stress-free a journey as possible, by arranging the shortest transit times from origin airport to the final destination, and adapting the relevant temperature and cabin pressure whilst on board.

This time last year, Qatar Airways Cargo was also recognized as IATA CEIV Pharma certified, having demonstrated its compliance with the industry-leading practices in the booking, acceptance, handling, and transportation of pharmaceutical products. The airline now aims to obtain IATA CEIV Fresh certification in 2022.

Source: QNA