I recently had the chance to visit the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre and also learn about the world of cargo transportation at London Heathrow Airport.

While many of us think of airports as places for passengers to catch flights, there is so much more going on behind the scenes! Whether it’s transporting laboratory rats (yes, I saw boxes of them) or your beloved snake travelling back home with you.

Heathrow, being one of the busiest airports in the world, is a hub for this global transportation, and I was lucky enough to see it all firsthand. In this blog, I will give you a snippet of my visit.

Animal Transportation

The day started with a presentation by Ross Hayes from Heathrow Animal Reception Centre. He went through the legislation and licensing behind animal transportation and safeguarding.

I learnt many cool facts – such as, prior to 1999, pets would undergo mandatory six months quarantine. Now, you can be reunited with your pets as quick as 2-4 hours upon arrival if all requirements are satisfactory.

We also heard from Jake Holliday from Animal Aircare Ltd, the only private company with exclusive access to airside.
He spoke about their new state-of-the-art cattery which comes kitted with classical music playing and natural pheromone diffusers to create a relaxing environment for animals.

I was really fortunate enough to receive a tour of The Animal Reception Centre at Heathrow Airport. Here, animals arrive and placed under quarantine before they are either reunited with their owner or sent on to their final destination.

What struck me immediately was how much care and attention goes into making sure animals are safe and well cared for during their journey. The centre provides a range of services, from quarantine and health checks to ensuring the animals have enough space to relax during their wait. It’s a fascinating part of transportation that you don’t often hear about.

Cargo Transportation

Beyond just animals, Heathrow plays a critical role in global cargo transportation. In fact, Heathrow handles around 1.7 million tonnes of cargo each year, moving everything from pharmaceuticals and electronics to high-value goods like artworks and luxury items. One interesting fact I learned was that Heathrow is the UK’s busiest airport for cargo. Despite its passenger traffic being the focus for most people, cargo operations are a huge part of the airport’s operations. More than 30% of the UK’s total imports and exports by value go through Heathrow, which is quite an impressive statistic.

Another surprising fact I learned is that air cargo accounts for around 40% of global trade by value, even though it represents just a small percentage of the total volume of goods transported around the world. This is because air transport is essential for high-value, time-sensitive goods. Think of things like perishable food, medical supplies, and electronics that need to be shipped quickly and securely.

Interestingly, 48% of all UK air cargo was processed through Heathrow in 2023. With the top export product being salmon! So many facts learnt thanks to Caroline Brace and Mahdiyah for an excellent presentation into Heathrow’s cargo capabilities.

Overall summary of the day

It was eye-opening to see how much logistics goes into ensuring smooth, safe, and efficient transportation. While cargo transport at airports might not be something we think about every day, it’s an essential part of keeping the global economy running. Heathrow’s role in this is massive, and the Animal Reception Centre is just one piece of the puzzle that makes this entire system work. It’s a great reminder of how interconnected the world is and how airports like Heathrow play a huge role in keeping things moving.

Meeting the new The Air League CEO

I was fortunate enough to be on tour with Janine Hornsby, the new CEO of the Air League. This was the first time I’ve met her in person since she’s been appointed CEO. She seems incredibly nice and has great aura about her – we had a great chat about her time at Marshall. Super excited to be working with her in the future!