If you flew recently from Vancouver to Toronto, you may have been sharing your Air Canada flight with an interesting and special reptile. Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada in Toronto entrusted Air Canada and Air Canada Cargo to give metal wings to a Green Sea Turtle, named Schoona, and fly across the country to her new home.

“Air Canada Cargo has a wealth of experience flying a wide range of animals, from beloved household pets to bees aiding in agriculture polination to prized horses around the globe. Being able to transport Schoona with the highest level of care is something we are extremely proud to have been a part in. We provide the highest standard of safety and attention for all animals we are entrusted to carry, and we are thrilled to see Schoona is doing well in her new home,” said Matthieu Casey, Managing Director, Commercial, for Air Canada Cargo.

“I would like to extend my thanks to Air Canada and Air Canada Cargo for assisting us with moving Schoona to her new home at Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada. We sincerely appreciate all the effort and care from each of their teams – cargo, flight, media, admin and more - who showed great skill and professionalism from check-in at Vancouver to load out in Toronto. It’s not every day you have a flying sea turtle, but their help ensured Schoona had the smoothest possible journey. Thank you very much!” said Kevin McAvoy, Director of Husbandry, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada

Schoona arrived at Air Canada Cargo’s Vancouver facility in a special crate 3 hours before her flight, and was kept in a warm environment until it was time for her to be loaded onto the aircraft. Her flight to Toronto was on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the cargo hold’s temperature was controlled to keep her comfortable during the four-hour journey onboard.

Air Canada Cargo offers the highest service level for animal transportation, compliant with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Live Animal Regulations. Earlier this year, Air Canada become the first airline to be re-certified by IATA for the safe transport of live animals by Air Canada Cargo.