On September 6th, the aviation industry came together to celebrate a remarkable event: the grand opening of Swissport’s new Live Animal Lounge at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.
Swissport Welcome Lounge and Government Inspection Facility – Johannesburg International Airport, SOUTH AFRICA
The event featured IPATA President Hazel Imrie along with various stakeholders who support AVI relocations to South Africa. Everyone present was eagerly anticipating the reveal of the new state-of the-art facility.
Khangi Khoza – Swissport CEO (left) Hazel Imrie – IPATA President (right)
The recently renovated Swissport AVI facility, which has been under development for the past year, has officially opened its doors not only to industry professionals but also, most importantly, to their furry friends. This innovative facility is the first of its kind in South Africa, designed specifically for the transit of pets arriving and departing from Johannesburg, as well as for animals passing through Johannesburg on their way to other international destinations.
Animal Inspection area – Johannesburg International Airport
Export Resting Area – Johannesburg International Airport, South Africa
The Live Animal Lounge offers a range of enhancements designed to improve the travel experience for pets. Comfortable resting areas create a serene atmosphere where animals can unwind. To ease any stress, gentle classical music plays softly in the background. Additionally, the lounge features air conditioned rooms that ensure an ambient temperature, further enhancing the comfort of the animals.
A notable highlight of the facility is its exceptional veterinary area, where animals receive thorough care during import and export inspections. This guarantees that pets are well cared for and receive any required medical attention. Moreover, the lounge is designed and features state of the art climate controlled aircraft transit vehicles, to protect animals in travel from the elements while they are being transported to the aircraft, contributing to a stress-free and pleasant travel experience.
Hazel Imrie discusses the inauguration of the lounge: “The introduction of Swissport’s Live Animal Lounge marks a significant milestone in the advancement of pet and animal travel in South Africa, setting new standards for comfort and care in the pet relocation industry. This facility is designed to improve the travel experience for pets while offering peace of mind to their owners, highlighting South Africa’s progress and commitment to exceptional animal welfare.”
Khangi Khoza – Swissport CEO (left) Burt Jonker – Swissport GM (Centre) Hazel Imrie – IPATA President (right)
