Virgin Australia has announced its intention to be the country’s first airline to operate flights with pets onboard.
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The Australian-first service, which will have pet-lovers rejoicing around the nation, is subject to regulatory approval, and is expected to launch within 12 months.
In a social media survey of Virgin Australia’s Facebook followers in 2021, 85 per cent of respondents voted in favour of the airline launching pets in cabin flights.
In more recent research conducted by Virgin Australia with Australian pet owners, nearly 70 per cent of respondents advised they would travel with their pet in the cabin, with 57 per cent saying they would fly more regularly if the service was a reality.
Almost all major carriers in North America offer a pets onboard service for domestic flights, including United Airlines and Air Canada.
For the comfort of all guests, Virgin Australia has yesterday announced a number of parameters for pets in cabin flights:
The service will be limited to small cats and dogs on specific domestic routes;
Pets will be restricted to a limited number of designated rows and will not be allowed to roam freely or sit on laps;
Pets must also be carried in a Virgin Australia approved pet carrier under the seat in front of the owner for the duration of the flight.
The proposed pets in cabin flights will not result in any change to approved assistance animals being able to travel in the cabin of Virgin Australia aircraft at no additional cost.
The existing procedure for assessing the eligibility of these assistance animals to travel onboard will not change.
Additionally, Virgin Australia will continue to offer pets to be transported as cargo through approved pet carrier services, as this remains an important part of the Virgin Australia pet offering.
Virgin Australia will charge a fee for guests who are eligible to bring their pet onboard.
The service is subject to regulatory approval and is likely to launch within 12 months, pending planning and stakeholder consultation.
Virgin Australia will continue to offer pets to be transported as cargo through approved pet carrier services. ■
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