Turkish Cargo is the shipping arm of Turkish Airlines, a popular air travel provider serving Europe, North America, and the Middle East. Their pet shipping service, called TK Live, provides pet shipping to more than 300 destinations across the world. With more than 30 years of experience in live animal shipments, they have a wonderful track record for hosting pets in a healthy, peaceful environment that complies with IATA and CITES regulations.
The Turkish Cargo pet policy ensures that live animals are handled by staff members who are IATA LAR (Live Animal Regulations) certified. Animals have their own live animal accommodations and care rooms, which include shelters equipped with remote-controlled temperature and humidity monitoring systems. All animals receive food in accordance with the instructions provided by pet parents or handlers, and the documentation, packaging, labeling, and marking guidelines required by IATA are applied. If you need to ship your pet to Istanbul Airport, or anywhere else in Europe or the Middle East, this is a fantastic option.
Turkish Cargo Animal Restrictions
The Turkish Cargo pet policy has several restrictions, most of which will not come as a surprise to seasoned pet travelers. We have included the full list of prohibited species and animal-related objects below.
- Dead animals
- Pregnant animals
- Live animals who are carrying an infectious disease
- Laboratory or experimental animals
- Animals younger than 10 weeks
- Kittens and puppies who have not been weaned
- Venomous animals (scorpions, snakes, spiders, some frog species, &c.)
- Shark fins
- Raw and/or processed parts, objects, and remains of live animals. This includes things like hunting trophies and ivory.
Additionally, some dangerous dog breeds are not allowed transport. This includes the American Staffordshire Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa, and Pitbull Terrier.
There are some additional restrictions placed on other live animal species, but most can receive transport if they are being shipped between zoos, organizations, institutions, recognized protection centers, and rehabilitation centers. This includes all primates, including monkeys, gorillas, chimpanzees, and their derivatives, as well as wild and endangered species.
Rodents can be transported if their containers are strong enough to resist nibbling. Animals known for their bad smell, including sheep, goats, bulls, musk oxen, Mustela nivalis, Mustelidae, and minks may only receive transport on board a freighter.
Turkish Cargo Pet Policy for Containers
The Turkish Cargo pet policy provides detailed instructions for domestic animal carriers. These containers must be made of rigid plastic and have ventilation on all four sides. The cage must have handles, a sufficient amount of absorbent materials, and be in good condition (i.e. undamaged). The cage should also have the full name, address, and contact number of the pet parent. Turkish Cargo has its own formula for determining the minimum size requirements, as represented in the graphic below.
Special carriers are required for snub-nosed breeds. These carriers must have ventilation openings on all four sides, and the carrier must be larger than the minimum requirements described above. They must also have an “indemnity letter” submitted by the consignor, and the temperature must be lower than 80 degrees Fahrenheit at the destination airport.
What to Expect from the Turkish Cargo Pet Handling Experience
The Turkish Cargo pet policy is designed to ensure the smoothest pet handling experience possible. This includes a dedicated animal acceptance gate, a live animal room, on-site veterinary services, caring and feeding, and prioritized loading and unloading procedures. Reservations are quick and easy to make, and all pet owners will receive a professional consultation prior to booking. Pets fees for Turkish Cargo will vary depending on the size of the animal, destination, and dates of travel. Additionally, all shipments are provided with a tracking number, which means pet parents can see their animals travel in real time.
For more information about species-specific transportation options, including horses, wild animals, and domestic animals, we recommend reviewing the TK Live website.