Shannon Airport has handled its first horse shipment of 2016, with the arrival of six thoroughbreds on a Turkish Airlines Cargo Airbus A330 Freighter.

The mares were brought to a stud in Southern Ireland having been transported on a four hour flight with a vet on board. This flight was the first scheduled service transporting horses to Shannon with Turkish Airlines Cargo. Turkish operate three flights a week from Istanbul to Shannon, which then go to the US, with one service to Atlanta, Chicago and New York each.

International Aviation Services Centre and Shannon Group Strategy director, Patrick Edmond says: “We hope to increase this business in future and the recent Turkish Cargo flight with these thoroughbred animals was an opportunity again to show what we can do. Horses are often transported through Shannon on special charter flights, but this scheduled flight opens up an attractive and cost-effective new option for owners.”