JAL and All Nippon Airways (ANA) are under pressure to revise their policies requiring animals to travel in secure containers in aircraft cargo holds, while other international airlines are now banning animals from being accompanied by their owners on board. Pet lovers point out that travel is allowed. .
Fukuoka-based Star Flyer also began allowing small dogs and cats on all domestic flights starting January 15 in a bid to appeal to more travelers. Passengers are allowed to bring one pet on board, with a maximum of two on any flight, according to the airline's website.
StarFlyer rules require pets to be kept in crates and assigned seats alongside their owners in the last row of seats. There is a charge of 50,000 yen (340 USD) for a pet seat.
JAL and ANA previously allowed animals to be carried on board their flights, but both airlines said they have scrapped those policies largely due to customer feedback.
Saiko Kuwasaki, a JAL spokeswoman, said, “Until now, passengers were able to bring their pets on board, but we received many negative comments from other passengers about allergic reactions, as well as odors, excessive noise, and barking.'' “We also received complaints about the voice and other issues.”
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“We have carefully considered the situation, but the final decision has been made to allow pets to travel in the cargo hold on all JAL flights.”
ANA is implementing a similar policy, said spokeswoman Anna Mukai. “Pets can only be transported in the cargo hold on both domestic and international flights,” she says.
“This is a consideration for customers with allergies, and at this time we are not discussing changes to this policy due to the crash earlier this month,” Mukai said, adding that changes have also been made to seat configurations on many aircraft. he added. This has made it even more difficult to accommodate pet crates on aircraft.
Yoshitomo Aoki, a journalist covering Japan's aviation industry, said safety was also an important consideration for airlines after a JAL plane carrying 379 passengers and crew collided with a Coast Guard aircraft on the runway. He said it has become even more important since the Haneda accident earlier this month. Five of the six people on board the small plane died.
Pets on airplanes have caused problems in the past, as many passengers dislike the noise and smell.
“Pets on aircraft have caused problems in the past as many passengers dislike the noise and smell,” he said. “Another question is what kind of pets airlines are considering bringing on board. Some people have small cats or dogs, but if you want to bring a pet snake on board, Or a lizard? These people may complain that their pets are being treated unfairly.”
Allowing passengers to carry pets on board could also jeopardize the quick evacuation of planes in the event of an accident, Aoki said, adding that JAL crews were able to efficiently remove passengers before the jet burst into flames at Haneda. He pointed out that he was praised for helping them escape. .
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“Pets in containers are considered baggage and passengers are prohibited from attempting to leave the affected aircraft with their baggage in hand,” he said. “So if someone has to get off the plane, they can't take their pet with them.”
“I don't think most pet owners follow that rule, so bringing animals on a plane carries significant risks.”
