The latest airfreight transfer involved eight proud thoroughbreds on a charter flight from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Dubai last week, well in time to thrill race-goers at the richest horseracing event, the Dubai World Cup.

The magnificent and fastidious creatures arrived well-rested in their air stables, which are specially manufactured horse stalls on pallets, each designed to carry three horses.

The air stables are roomier, allow better movement, and are more comfortable than conventional stalls.

The horses were accompanied by a stable of 11 grooms, all comfortably travelling on one of Emirates SkyCargo’s fully-owned Airbus A310-300F freighters.

Each of the three wide-bodied A310Fs in its fleet, emblazoned with the red and gold Emirates SkyCargo logo, has a gross payload of 39 tonnes and the capacity to carry 21 horses using air stables.

Throughout the journey, care was taken to ensure that the animals were stress-free, safe, provided ample food and water on time, and kept in hygienic conditions.

Emirates SkyCargo’s expertise in handling highly-prized horses is renowned among racing circles as it regularly transports the animals around the world with its fleet of dedicated freighters, which also includes six Boeing 747s.

The eight horses that made the journey from Fort Lauderdale include: Magna Graduate, Brass Hat, Relaxed Gesture, Invasor, Mustanfar, Host, Dominguin, and Gaff.

Emirates SkyCargo, which is represented in Malta by Cassar & Cooper Limited, serves 78 destinations in 55 countries in Europe, North America, Middle East, Africa, the Far East and the Indian subcontinent.

Emirates flies from Malta to Dubai four times weekly via Larnaca, Cyprus.

The Airbus A330-200 used on the Malta route has a freight capacity of 13 tons each way. Enquiries on Emirates SkyCargo can be made at Air Cargo House, Ganni Vassallo Street, Luqa, on telephone number 21 660102, or at [email protected].