january-2019

SAFARI NJEMA / 89
Cargo
Very Important Pet
Golden Ticket
On board the maiden direct fiight
from New York to Nairobi was a
very special guest with a sky-high
cuteness factor: a Goldendoodle
puppy!
Louie made the journey in cargo thanks
to the joint efforts of Kenya Airways,
Avia Cargo and The ARK at JFK's Pet
Oasis. A cross between a Golden Retriever
and Poodle, Louie was bred in Alabama
and was on his way to his new home in
Kenya.
Delivered directly to the aircraft in time
for the inaugural flight last October, Louie
received the VIP experience. He was safely
loaded and secured in the aircraft's temperature-controlled
and pressurised cargo
hold, where he rested during the trip. The
doors opened in Nairobi, and Louie was
carefully unloaded. After a veterinary
inspection and a breeze through customs,
he was united with his owner, who was
pleased to see him in such good spirits,
"I couldn't believe how happy, clean and
excited he was after a 15-hour flight!" she
says. "It not only makes me want to teil
the world to trust how amazing Kenya
Airways is, hut makes me confident to
take Kenya Airways to JFK myself."
Louie is just the first of many animals
that are now able enjoy the ultra longhaul
journey in comfort and safety.
Kenya Airways is committed to providing
the best possible travel experience for
animals in transit. "KQ Live is our safe
and caring service for the transportation
of animals," says Boniface Mugugu,
Cargo Sales Manager Kenya Airways
(KQ). "We offer continuous care for
animals by spe­cially trained staff before,
during and after flights."
KQ Live is available to all Kenya Airways
destinations. As well as accompanied and
unaccompanied pets, wild animals (such
as rescued monkeys in the care of wildlife
associations) are also allowed to travel.
As live animals are the first item to
come out of the aircraft upon arrival,
both pets and wild animals are loaded
last and kept next to the entrance, where
off-loading time is at a minimum. In
most cases, a vet is present before take
off and on arrival as an extra measure.
This is sometimes necessary for wild
animals.
Kenya Airways strictly adheres to a failsafe
process that helps to prevent the
illegal traflicking of wildlife, particularly
endangered species. A dedicated sales
and customer service team attend to all
questions or concerns, and information
about anima! shipments is available via a
track and trace system on the website
after flight departure.