An Unconventional Encounter

You might be sat next to a raptor on your flight to Doha, as falcons are permitted to travel on board Qatar Airways planes in Economy class.

As long as owners have the correct documentation, including the birds passport, falcons may travel with them on Qatar Airways flights. Suprisingly, the birds do not have to be caged during the flight, though they do have to be hooded. So, getting up close and personal to such a magnificent bird of prey mid-flight is a distinct possibility. Falcons can be found worldwide (except in Antarctica) and there are 40 different falcon species. The Gyrfalcons are the largest of all falcon species and are considered a status symbol for royal Arab families. The smallest is the Kestrel and the Peregrine Falcon is the fastest of the species, reaching speeds of up to 240 mph (miles per hour) while diving.

In Arabic, falcons are called Saqr (صقر) and were traditionally been used by Bedouins to hunt food. In modern times, the birds are bred and trained to fly in annual hunting festivals, which offer substantial prize money for event winners. Falcons are prized for their speed and power and trained birds are worth from thousands to hundreds of thousands in dollars and pounds.

Falconry is an immensely important part of Arab culture. The sport of hunting with falcons dates back hundreds of centuries. Indeed, falconry is such a significant part of the Middle East's culture that UNESCO has added it to its Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.

In Qatar, falcons and falconry are embedded in Qatari culture. To Qataris, falconry is easily as popular as football. The falcon is also the national bird of Qatar and the peregrine falcon is used as a watermark on Qatari currency. So, it is easy to understand why they receive such special treatment.