In January 2017 a photograph of dozens of hooded falcons sitting in rows of airline seats went viral. Ahmet Yasar shared it on Twitter with the caption “My captain friend sent me this photo… Saudi prince bought ticket for his 80 hawks.” The birds were in fact falcons, and the picture opened a window on one of the Gulf’s oldest traditions and on the airline rules that let falcons fly in the cabin.

Rows of hooded falcons perched on aircraft seats in a passenger cabin
Hooded falcons perched on the seats of a passenger cabin. Image credit: lensoo.

The viral photo of falcons on a plane

Yasar told Bored Panda that the photo was taken on an Airbus A330 flying to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, but he could not say which airline operated the flight. The image was then shared on Reddit, and the story about a Saudi prince buying 80 tickets travelled with it.

What the picture shows is clear enough: a cabin of ordinary economy seats, each occupied by a hooded falcon on a perch, calm in the dimness of the hood. For people in the Gulf the scene is less strange than it looks. Wealthy falconers in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar regularly fly with their birds, and several airlines have rules written specifically for them.

Falconry in the Arabian Peninsula

Falconry and falcon racing have long traditions across the Arabian Peninsula. The sport is a prestigious pastime and a living link with desert heritage, and falcons are considered auspicious birds.

The best birds are extremely valuable. Forbes reported in 2015 that top hunting falcons in Qatar can sell for as much as $250,000. Owners look after them accordingly. The Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, opened on 3 October 1999, treats about 11,000 falcons a year, with services ranging from endoscopy and surgery to an eye unit and a 24-hour emergency line, and since 2007 it has also welcomed tourists.

Falcon passports

Because the birds cross borders so often, the UAE introduced passports for falcons. Between 2002 and 2013 the government reportedly issued more than 28,000 of them at about $130 each. The Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital is responsible for issuing them. The hospital also fits the birds with PIT microchips, and the passport lets a falcon travel to hunting grounds abroad and return home with its identity on record.

A falcon passport covers the bird’s movement; the owner still needs to meet the health and import rules of each country on the route.

How airlines carry falcons

Gulf carriers such as Etihad and Qatar Airways accept falcons in the cabin for an extra fee, and Lufthansa has offered a specially designed bird tray. The rules of Qatar Airways give a good idea of how it works:

  • One falcon per passenger may travel in the cabin, in Economy Class only, and the number of falcons per cabin is capped.
  • Passengers must submit the pet travel form or contact the airline at least 48 hours before departure.
  • Cabin fees depend on the route; on Qatar’s published table, a one-way flight from Qatar to Europe or Africa costs 240 USD per falcon.
  • Several falcons can also travel as checked baggage, charged at the same rates as other animals.
  • Falcons cannot travel in the cabin on flights to or from Tunis.

Book the bird at the same time as your own seat: approval is per flight, and fees and conditions change from time to time.

Video: falcons flying on a plane

This 2014 video shows another group of falcons travelling in an aircraft cabin.

For another look at the details of travel documents, read our guide to passport colours.

Sources