SF Airlines Undertakes First Transport of National Treasure Giant Pandas

On February 21, 2023, in Tokyo, Japan, SF Airlines welcomed a very special passenger - Xiang Xiang, a five-year-old female giant panda born in Japan. At 11:45 Beijing time, Xiang Xiang boarded SF Airlines flight O37564 at Narita International Airport and arrived safely at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport at 17:12 after nearly six hours in the air, before being transported to the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Ya'an, Sichuan.

Described by Japanese media as "a ‘poster girl’ whose adorable clumsiness has captivated visitors", Xiang Xiang has enjoyed immense popularity since her public debut in 2017, making her return to China a highly anticipated event. This marked SF Airlines' first transportation of the national treasure. To ensure a safe and smooth journey, SF Airlines established a dedicated task force that developed customized transport plans based on pandas' living habits and live animal transportation requirements, providing both efficient and caring service for Xiang Xiang's homecoming journey.

Wide-body Freighter Ensures Comfortable Flight

Following live animal transport standards, pandas require metal crates with sufficient space for accompanying caretakers. SF Airlines deployed a B767-300 wide-body freighter with a 4.5-meter-wide main cabin, positioning the crate centrally to meet spatial requirements while ensuring a stable flight experience.

As a growing five-year-old panda with developing physiological systems sensitive to environmental changes, the aircraft's main cabin provided oxygen and temperature control. Crew adjusted temperatures to 8-10°C before departure to create familiar conditions.

Professional Team Guarantees Safe Journey

Live animal transport demands higher standards than regular cargo. SF Airlines assembled an elite team including two pilots, one maintenance technician and one ground service specialist who arrived in Tokyo a day early for preparations.

Captain Li Yaorong, 42, with over 11,200 accident-free flight hours including pandemic relief missions and high-plateau routes, expressed: "It's an honor to escort our national treasure home - an unforgettable career moment. Our entire team cherished this opportunity to create the safest, most comfortable journey for Xiang Xiang."

With 79 freighters in its fleet, SF Airlines transports diverse cargo including live animals. In 2018, it safely delivered seals, dolphins and finless porpoises from Yantai to Fuzhou using the same aircraft type, with ground staff from that mission contributing valuable experience this time.

For redundancy, SF Airlines prepared two additional B767-300s as backups, with accompanying maintenance personnel providing crucial technical support.

Industry Collaboration Meets Special Requirements

Xiang Xiang traveled with two familiar keepers from Ueno Zoo. As China had no precedent for foreign attendants on live animal repatriation flights, the Civil Aviation Administration and regional authorities provided expedited guidance and approval for their special aircrew certificates - a critical enabler for the mission.

Having survived eight million years, giant pandas represent China's national treasure and a global biodiversity flagship species. Safely delivering Xiang Xiang home demonstrates SF Airlines' social value as an air logistics provider. Moving forward, the company will continue leveraging its fleet and network advantages to deliver secure, efficient services supporting economic and social needs.