Seeing stable growth in the business of transporting live animals (AVI) for over 10 years, AirBridge Cargo Airlines said 2020 was no exception as it saw a twofold increase in the segment.

The carrier attributed the growth to stable development of relations and business with existing customers who transport ‘traditional’ cargo passengers. These include livestock, pigs, horses, hatching eggs, one-day-old chick, and wild animals.

ABC noted it reached new market opportunities with new customers and leveraged on trade lanes and businesses the company had not been a part of previously.

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In its most recent AVI programme out of Europe, it operated two B747 charter flights to Kuwait carrying 355 heifers and 10 bulls to their new home.

‘Delivering cattle is a high-profile assignment although with the right specialists, capable fleet and reliable partners we were able to organize both flights in line with the industry standards and with the well-being of the animals in mind,” said Diana Schoeneich, European senior director at ABC.

“Despite severe weather conditions in both origin airports with heavy snow and wind, the flights were operated intact and we were happy to see heifers and bulls arriving at their final destination safely and healthy,” she added.

AirBridgeCargo said the flights, which were organised from Liege in Belgium and Leipzig, Germany to Kuwait City, were headed by its European AVI team in cooperation with Air Cargo Consultants and Intradco Global.