Here's how Singapore Airlines airlifted a giant panda cub and sent it on its journey home to China

Wed, 01/17/2024 - 23:19

Giant panda cub, Le Le (left) and his crate being locked into position on SIA's Boeing 747-400F freighter aircraft. — Giant panda cub, Le Le (left) traveled from Singapore to China via Singapore Airlines on 16 January 2024.
Mandai Wildlife Group; Singapore Airlines

Singapore's first giant panda cub, Le Le, traveled to China on Tuesday.
The panda cub took a 4.5-hour-long flight to China via Singapore Airlines.
The flag carrier said it spent the past five months preparing for Le Le's trip home.

Singapore Airlines was given a monumental task in January: They were put in charge of sending Le Le, a 2.5-year-old giant panda cub, to China.

Born in August 2021, Le Le was Singapore's first giant panda cub. The cub's parents, Kai Kai and Jia Jia, traveled to Singapore on loan in 2012. Both pandas are set to return to China in 2027.