A total of 147 elite showjumping horses have been evacuated from Qatar following escalating tensions in the Gulf region, highlighting the complexity of moving high-value live cargo under crisis conditions. The operation involved transporting the horses by road from Doha to Riyadh before two Qatar Airways Boeing 777 freighters carried them onward to Liège. One flight transported 74 horses and the second 73, with specialist staff accompanying the animals throughout the journey.

The relocation was coordinated between the Doha Equestrian Tour, Qatar Airways and local partners, after ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel led to continued instability and the closure of Qatari airspace.

With commercial flights suspended at Hamad International Airport, the horses were first moved approximately 350 kilometres by road to Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport. From there, the aircraft operated non-stop flights of around six hours to Liège, one of Europe’s key hubs for live animal logistics.

Qatar continues to have closed airspace, and commercial flights have been unable to operate from the country’s  Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH). According to Simple Flying, to enable the flights to operate, vehicles and horse floats were provided to travel from Doha to Riyadh, a four-hour journey by road covering 217 miles (350 kilometers). From Riyadh King Khalid International Airport (RUH), the flights were then operated safely on the six-hour nonstop flight to Liège Airport (LGG).

Credits: Qatar Airways

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Qatar Airways Cargo has begun operating a limited freighter schedule to and from Doha, as the closure of Qatari airspace continues to restrict normal flight operations.

The airline said cargo services to and from Doha remain temporarily suspended, but a reduced number of freighter flights are being operated through approved corridors to maintain essential supply chains.

These limited operations have been made possible through temporary authorisation from the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority, allowing cargo flights to move via specific routes despite ongoing airspace restrictions.

The airline is prioritising the transport of essential goods, including pharmaceuticals, food products and medical supplies, to ensure continuity of critical imports into the country.

To support these operations, Qatar Airways Cargo has adjusted its network and deployed freighter aircraft on key routes, while continuing to monitor the situation closely and make further changes as required.

The airline added that normal cargo operations will resume once the airspace reopens and full flight activity can safely restart.

Credits: Qatar Airways

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