Magma Aviation, the innovative air cargo solutions company, and Intradco Global, the leading horse transportation air charter specialist, have successfully transported 34 endurance horses from Liège (Belgium) to AlUla (Saudi Arabia) for the AlFursan Endurance Cup. Held in AlUla, in the heart of the desert, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, this prestigious event offers the highest prize money in the sport and showcases the pinnacle of endurance riding. Both companies demonstrated their expertise in equine logistics and dedication to animal welfare throughout this operation.
Endurance horses are extremely valuable and clients’ expectations for such transportation are always based on the highest standards. The companies transporting racehorses must ensure the best service and care to guarantee all goes smoothly. The client, ordering endurance horses transportation from Magma Aviation and Intradco Global, was highly pleased with the level of service, from the first encounter to the safe arrival of the horses.
Peter Kerins, CEO of Magma Aviation, spoke on the unique collaboration: “We are proud to partner with Intradco Global for the meticulous transport of endurance horses to the Al Fursan Cup. This operation exemplifies our ability to meet the strict requirements of specialized cargo flights, ensuring every aspect of the journey is managed with utmost precision and care for the animals’ welfare.”
Intradco Global is the world’s leading equine transportation air charter specialist with over 30 years of experience, unparalleled global coverage, professional flying grooms, and equipment innovation, providing a completely bespoke service from first contact to safe arrival.
Charlie McMullen, CEO of Intradco Global, commented: “We specialize in transforming complex travel requirements into seamless journeys. For the Al Fursan Endurance Cup, our team went above and beyond to ensure the horses received the highest standard of care. Our collaboration with Magma Aviation further strengthens our ability to deliver exceptional service and uphold the safety and comfort of the animals throughout their transport.”
Equine logistics requires special attention to each stage of the transportation, including pre-flight operations. This starts with choosing the correct horse stall for transport and ensuring wooden shavings are laid on the floor for the horse’s comfort and to absorb urine. The pilots and loadmasters work closely with the grooms, ensuring that the horse stalls are loaded correctly, facing forward, and secured properly. This is essential for the aircraft balance and horses’ well-being. The specialists must ensure a comfortable temperature with suitable ventilation within the cargo hold. Professional in-flight grooms provide freshwater access for the horses and hay throughout the flight.
During the flight, the grooms communicate with the pilots, who are responsible for maintaining a stable and comfortable environment in the cargo hold, particularly the temperature and ventilation. The pilots constantly inform the grooms of any changes in flight conditions, such as turbulence or delays. With horses and other live animals on board, ensuring smooth takeoffs and landings is essential to limit animal stress.
Both Magma Aviation and Intradco Global strictly comply with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Live Animals Regulations (LAR). These regulations provide guidelines for the safe and humane transport of animals. Both parties are properly trained to handle such flights from pre-flight, environment control during the flight, and in-flight care, minimizing stress, and maintaining effective communication and transparency. Magma and Intradco hold a longstanding relationship that helps through all aspects of a flight operation.
