Over 50 horses arrived at Hong Kong International Airport on 3 September, walking from their travel stalls calm and unhurried, ahead of the Asian debut of CAVALLUNA – Gate to the Otherworld at Kai Tak Arena on 8 September and from 10 to 13 September 2026. In 23 years and more than 30 cities, Apassionata World has never staged the show outside Europe. Cathay Cargo, the event’s Official Equine Transport Partner, was honoured to fly the cast in from Europe for the first time.
CAVALLUNA blends equestrian artistry with dance, live music and theatrical storytelling. Cathay Cargo’s Cathay Live Animal specialist teams orchestrated the 12-hour journey from Liège, Belgium, a central location with a well-equipped cargo airport and stabling facilities, aboard a chartered Boeing 747 freighter. Eight breeds travelled together, from Lusitanos and Friesians to mini-Shetland ponies, each with its own temperament, handling requirements and feeding routine.
Cathay Director Cargo Dominic Perret said: “CAVALLUNA’s equine performers are at the heart of this production, and their journey to Hong Kong was an intricate performance in its own right. We have carried horses for decades, from racehorses to elite showjumpers, but transporting eight breeds on one aircraft demanded even more from the team. Our role was to make the flight one of the calmest parts of their tour, and every stage was carefully choreographed around the horses’ wellbeing, with the grooms who know them best.”
Apassionata World Horse Choreographer Siri Paratsch said: “Our equine performers are of course the most crucial part of the show next to our riders, dancers, and musicians, and each has individual needs. Cathay Cargo’s expertise gave us confidence to bring the show beyond Europe for the first time.”
A care-first journey, from Liège to the wings
As demand grows for live animal transport globally, Cathay Cargo’s Cathay Live Animal solution brings specialist teams and equine experts together to deliver a journey centred on comfort, care and wellbeing:
- A familiar cast: Professional grooms on board who understand the horses’ personalities and routines travel with them, monitoring their feeding, hydration and wellbeing, while maintaining continuous communication with the flight deck. They work alongside flight crew and ground-handling teams experienced in live animal carriage.
- A performance in perfect balance: International Air Transport Association (IATA)-compliant travel stalls give proper ventilation, space and safety. The main deck is kept within the 10 to 19 degrees Celsius range set out in IATA’s Live Animals Regulations, as horses standing in stalls generate considerable body heat. Where operationally appropriate, gentler landing techniques reduce sudden movements that could unsettle the horses.
- A calm transition backstage: Gentle handling, minimal waiting and slow-speed tarmac transfers reduce noise, disturbance and unnecessary movement between the aircraft and the horse handling platform at Cathay Cargo Terminal.
Cathay Cargo carries more than 1,000 horses every year, from racehorses to elite showjumpers, and was the first carrier in Asia to achieve IATA’s prestigious CEIV Live Animals certification, bringing the same operational expertise to every live animal shipment.
