Animal Transportation

Animal 'passengers' have special needs and their well-being during the transportation is paramount, as required by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Aviacon was involved in a range of animal transportation projects from international horse shipments and livestock airlifts to the relocation of exotic species.

In 2006, the Air Company delivered a pair of the world’s rarest species of rhinos (Rhinoceros unicornis) from Nepal to Europe as a gift from the King of Nepal to Vienna Zoo.

In his letter of gratitude, the Director of Animal Transport Association and the Chairman of CITES noted that he ‘will recommend the company to everybody who prepares shipments of live animals around the world’.

In 2008, Aviacon’s aircraft delivered eight white whales from the Russian city of Anapa to one of the world’s largest oceanariums located in Hamilton, Canada.

In 2015 we obtained valuable experience in providing secure transportation for horses. It gave us proven knowledge of the industry standards, regulations and the network of special equipment providers.

In 2020 “the world’s loneliest elephant” named Kaavan was airlifted onboard our IL76TD from Pakistan to a wildlife sanctuary in Cambodia. The famous American singer Cher, together with the activists of the charity Foundation Four Paws International, campaigned for his freedom for years.

The 156 dogs and 133 cats were carried aboard the Avicon RA-76502 aircraft, which took off from Kabul on January 30, 2022 and landed in Canada two days later after stopovers in Turkey and Iceland.

The pets belong to diplomats, troops and contractors who left Afghanistan in August 2021 as the Taliban took control of the country.

Charlotte Maxwell-Jones, who cared for the animals at Kabul Small Animal Rescue (KSAR) and organised their evacuation, supervised the loading at Hamid Kharzai International in Kabul.

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Company Profile

Aviacon Zitotrans, a Russia-based private airline, founded in 1995, operates a fleet of IL-76TD aircraft.

For 25 years It has performed flights to/from/via more than 750 airports in 161 countries of the world.

Ilyushin-76 can do without most of the ground equipment necessary for a regular civil plane. Thanks to its rear ramp that allows roll-on and roll-off loading of wheeled and tracked vehicles and onboard equipment the plane allows unassisted loading and off-loading of heavy cargo.

Owning 5 the youngest IL76TDs out of less than 50 planes of that type left airworthy in the world commercial charter market, Aviacon is looking forward to providing you with reliable and high-quality airlift services. More...

Aviacon’s overseas operations are based upon our flight support team, which is run and manned 24/7/365.

It is capable of providing all-inclusive flight support (FPL, weather forecasts, traffic rights, airport arrangements, fuel uplifts) and ensures global coverage of the company operations.

IL76 – a versatile ramp freighter

IL76 cargo hold is fully-pressurized and has a titanium floor with fold-down roller conveyors.

Main cargo deck is equipped with 4 overhead cranes running the full length of the cargo hold, each of which with lifting capacity of 3,000 kg, and two winches.

A hydraulically-operated rear loading ramp itself can be used as a lift, with a capacity of up to 30,000 kg. It allows roll-on and roll-off loading of wheeled and tracked vehicles.

Although the cargo deck is compatible with international standard sea containers and pallets, the plane, originally designed as a military transport, proved to be also ideal for loading offloading of rolling stock, trucks, vehicles, out- and oversized gears, dangerous goods (including UN Class 1 cargo).