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Lufthansa's birds of passage

Elisabeth Jahn, dpaJanuary 7, 2015

To meet a demand from wealthy, bird-loving clientele in the Middle East, Lufthansa's technical staff are developing a seating platform for the transport of falcons - however only to be used on privately hired airplanes.

https://p.dw.com/p/1EGAp
Falconer with two birds in Dubai
Image: Picture-Alliance/KEYSTONE

Anyone who is anyone in the Gulf States owns at least one falcon. And wherever the owner goes, the feathery companion has to go too. Lufthansa, in a bid to please these affluent customers is therefore developing the "Falcon Master", which allows for the safe and hygienic transport of birds. The height, width and depth can be adjusted so that the object fits in all Airbus and Boeing airplanes.

Contrary to other reports though, the "Falcon Master" is being developed for the private jets of individual customers and not for regular services. The transport of birds in the cabin will continue to be prohibited as it violates International Air Transport Association regulations.

Wealthy clientele from the Middle East are not just important to the German airline - in 2013, some 1.5 million people from the Gulf States visited Germany, representing an increase of around 20 percent on the preceding year.