Linz Airport cattle shipments to Turkmenistan spark political debate

Political debate has emerged in Upper Austria regarding the long-distance air transport of cattle from Linz-Hörsching Airport to Turkmenistan. The shipments involve Simmental bulls originating from Hungary, which are transported by truck to the airport and then flown to Asia via aircraft from the Mexican cargo airline MAS.

Stefan Kaineder, the regional councillor for environment and climate for the Green Party, has called for an immediate end to these flights. Kaineder criticized the practice as “cruel and senseless,” arguing that cattle are sentient beings rather than mere cargo. He is advocating for a fundamental ban on long-distance live animal transports.

In response, airport authorities stated that all international transport regulations and veterinary guidelines are being strictly followed. They noted that the animals possess official health certificates and written clearance from Hungarian border veterinarians. Furthermore, local veterinarians are present during loading to inspect the animals, and recent inspections by the Linz-Land district authority reported no violations.