Qatar Airways Cargo has carried out a large-scale live animal evacuation, transporting 147 elite show-jumping horses out of Qatar as instability in the Gulf region disrupted normal air operations.
The horses had been in Doha for a major competition when rising tensions linked to Iran, the United States and Israel led to continued uncertainty and the closure of Qatari airspace. With commercial traffic suspended at Hamad International Airport, organisers were forced to find an alternative route under urgent conditions.
The relocation was coordinated by the Doha Equestrian Tour, Qatar Airways and local partners. The first step involved moving the horses by road from Doha to Riyadh, a journey of roughly 350 kilometres, or around 217 miles. Vehicles and horse floats were used to transport the animals to King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital.
From there, two Qatar Airways Boeing 777 freighters carried the horses onward to Liège, one of Europe’s key hubs for live animal logistics. One flight transported 74 horses, while the second carried 73. Specialist staff accompanied the animals throughout the journey.
The non-stop flights from Riyadh to Liège lasted around six hours and were arranged to ensure the horses could be removed safely despite the closure of Doha’s airport.
The operation underlined both the logistical complexity and the operational sensitivity involved in moving high-value live cargo during a regional crisis. It also highlighted the degree to which specialist cargo planning can be decisive when conventional aviation channels are suddenly cut off.
