Swissport International AG has opened a lounge for unaccompanied pets at Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport. The new space, dedicated to servicing unaccompanied pets, underscores the company’s commitment to animal welfare and operational excellence.
Pet-friendly lounge space
Johannesburg OR Tambo, South Africa’s largest and busiest airport, has welcomed several exciting new lounge announcements in the past. However, this time, the new space is not for the airport’s usual two-legged visitors. Located away from the bustle of the general air cargo warehouse, the new pet lounge will be used for the import and export of unaccompanied pets.
Photo: Swissport
It provides a calm environment for the animals, significantly enhancing their travel experience. The pet lounge is equipped with water service, air conditioning, and calming music, providing a stress-free experience for the pets. Speaking about the new facility, Swissport South Africa CEO Khangi Khoza said,
“The Swissport Pet Lounge sets a new benchmark in animal handling at an airport in South Africa, making the stay for our special travelers as relaxing as possible. The facility reflects our commitment to delivering services that benefit the animals and our customers from airlines and forwarders alike.”
The lounge also features a dedicated acceptance area for the checking of the pets, together with their travel documentation. The space is complemented by two separate rooms for pets waiting for their flight, owners, or a specialized animal handling agent.
Special regulations for pets
According to Swissport, the new location is managed by a dedicated team trained to handle animals, ensuring the highest level of care and safety in compliance with the International Air Transport Association’s Live Animals Regulations (IATA LAR). The ground and cargo handling service provider will collaborate closely with the South African State Veterinary Service to thoroughly assess all imported and exported animals.
Photo: Swissport
Not all airlines flying to, from, and within South Africa allow animals in the cabin. As such, passengers who intend to travel with their pets are advised to consult a specialized animal handling agent who can provide a crate, process the necessary travel documents, and advise the owners about potential quarantine regulations in various countries. Swissport works closely with them to ensure that the pets board the aircraft or are brought to the agent delivering them on time.
While many airlines operating in the country may not yet allow animals onboard, South Africa’s LIFT has been very vocal about its pet-friendly policy. The airline allows passengers to travel with small dogs in the cabin. The pets must be in an approved, purpose-built soft-case dog carrier and the service request must be submitted at least seven days before the intended date of travel.
Lounge access at OR Tambo
Apart from pet lounges, Swissport also has several lounges worldwide for people. It owns Aspire Executive Lounges, Europe’s largest airport lounge brand. OR Tambo International is home to an Aspire lounge located past security. Lounge access is available for purchase for all passengers.
Photo: Tatenda Karuwa | Simple Flying
Last year, Swissport provided ground services for about 232 million passengers and handled approximately 4.7 million tons of cargo at 115 air cargo centers worldwide. As of December 2023, Swissport employed around 60,000 employees, providing services at 286 airports in 44 countries on six continents.
