Bringing cats from Australia to France

[Parsley1350]

Has anyone had experience of bringing cats into France from Australia.  We are thinking about bringing 2 cats (one Siamese one Persian, both 4 years old) to France (or possibly first to the UK).   My concern is the air-travel part.  Both cats are indoor animals who haven't taken well to car travel to date, so I am more than a little concerned about how they will go with being boxed for at least 25 hours in an aircraft hold.  I have heard horror stories about animals in aircraft holds (unrestrained crates that fall, sprinkler systems that go off in flight, and so forth).  Any information, either positive or negative, would be greatly appreciated.