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Thursday, March 7, 2024: Virgin Australia has announced its intention to become the first airline in the country to fly with pets on board, under plans announced today.
The Australian-first service, which will delight pet lovers across the country, is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to launch within 12 months.
In a 2021 social media survey of Virgin Australia's Facebook followers, 85% of respondents voted in favor of the airline allowing pets on board. A recent Virgin Australia survey of Australian pet owners found that nearly 70% of respondents would advise traveling with their pets on board, and 57% would advise them to travel more regularly if the service became a reality. I answered that I would get on a plane.
Almost all major North American airlines, including United Airlines and Air Canada, offer carry-on services for pets on domestic flights.
Proposal for bringing your pet on board
To ensure the best experience for all our customers, Virgin Australia today announced some conditions for pets on our flights.
This service is limited to small dogs and cats on certain domestic routes.
Pets are restricted to a limited number of designated rows and are not allowed to roam freely or sit on your lap.
Pets must also be transported in a Virgin Australia approved pet carrier under the seat in front of their owner for the duration of the flight.
CEO comment
Virgin Australia Group CEO Jane Hrdlicka said at a press conference at Melbourne Airport.Virgin Australia says it is excited to finally reveal plans to become the first Australian airline to offer pets on board.
“Our love of animals has always been in Virgin Australia's DNA and we're thrilled to be taking Australia's first pet on board,” Ms Hrdlicka said.
“Overwhelmingly, our customers have told us they want to travel with their pets and we are currently on a journey to make that a reality. This is common and proven to be effective overseas.
“Almost 70% of Australian households own a pet, so this announcement is hugely important for large parts of the country. This will truly be a whole new economy for pet travel in Australia.
“Pets on board is another example of Virgin Australia leading the way by providing our customers with new and improved service offerings and market-first experiences.
“Innovation has always been a hallmark of Virgin Australia. We were the first airline in the country to offer online check-in. This year, we became the first Australian airline to offer fully integrated self-service confusion management with baggage tracking. We introduced tools. It is this innovation and first-to-market drive that underpins our presence in the market,” she said.
Melbourne Airport CEO Laurie Argus The airport said it looked forward to supporting Virgin Australia in delivering Australia's first air service.
“We have put a lot of effort into providing relief areas for assistance animals and these facilities have sufficient capacity to serve Virgin Australia's new guests,” she said. Stated.
“Animals transported onboard Virgin Australia flights must remain in an approved pet carrier at all other times within the terminal.
“We hope the pet-in-cabin concept will be a popular product and we look forward to working with Virgin Australia to make it a reality.”
More information about pets on board flights, including available routes and fees for pets on board, will be announced soon.
No change to assistance animal
The in-cabin pet proposal does not result in any change to approved assistance animals that can travel in the cabin on Virgin Australia aircraft at no additional cost. The existing procedures for evaluating the eligibility of these assistance animals for in-flight travel remain unchanged. Additionally, Virgin Australia will continue to offer the service of transporting pets as cargo through approved pet transport services. This is because it remains an important part of Virgin Australia's pet products.
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Note to editor
For the comfort of all guests and crew, pets will be restricted to a small number of designated rows on eligible routes and will not be allowed to roam freely or sit on your lap. Animals must also be carried in a Virgin Australia approved pet carrier under the seat in front of their owner for the duration of the flight.
Virgin Australia charges guests who can bring their pets on board.
The service is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to launch within 12 months, subject to planning and stakeholder consultation.
Virgin Australia will continue to offer the ability to transport pets as cargo through approved pet transport services. Learn more about.
Approved assistance animals can continue to travel free of charge in the cabin of Virgin Australia aircraft.
Virgin Australia has always supported the carriage of furry guests in the hold, including:
Chad, a Virgin Australia baggage handler from Perth, has become a dog whisperer, talking to his pets before they board the plane. View.
Stranded dachshund Pip has been reunited with his owner after a global adventure during the pandemic. read.
Q&A
When will pets be accepted on VA flights?
This is a major project that requires regulatory approval and services are expected to begin within the next 12 months. We will continue to update you as more information becomes available. In the meantime, we will continue to offer the service of transporting pets as cargo through approved pet carrier services. Learn more about.
Can I bring my pet?
This depends on the type of pet you have, its size, and the route you are traveling. Although we are still working out the specific rules for the service, we have confirmed that only small dogs and cats are allowed on board. Small dogs and cats must fit comfortably in a Virgin Australia approved pet carrier and be able to stow under the seat in front of you for the duration of the flight. Flight.
Virgin Australia will continue to offer the ability to transport pets as cargo through approved pet transport services. Learn more about.
I have allergies, can I travel with VA?
Minimizing the impact on our guests without pets is extremely important to us, which is why we will spend the coming months designing a safe proposition with strict rules in place. Pets are restricted to a few designated rows and are not allowed to roam freely or sit on your lap.
Cabin airflow dynamics (air circulates from top to bottom), cabin air renewal 20-30 times per hour, and use of hospital-grade HEPA filters in the aircraft (reducing more than 99% of airborne particles) ) means an allergy risk. Trigger particles circulating on board are low. VA now has a robust system in place that allows guests with severe allergies to verify their identity through her MEDA process, reducing risk for these guests and allowing arrangements to be made prior to travel.
This service has worked effectively in North America and Europe for many years and we are confident it will work in Australia as well.
Why shouldn't I let my pet sit on my lap?
It is very important to us that we minimize the impact on our passengers without pets, and for this reason and for the safety of all our passengers and crew, we do not allow pets to roam freely on board or sit on their owners' laps. sitting on it is not permitted.
How do I book if I'm traveling with my pet? / How much does it cost? / Which routes can I use it on?
We plan to explore these details in the coming months. We plan to start allowing pets on board within 12 months, pending stakeholder feedback and regulatory approval.
Virgin Australia will continue to offer the ability to transport pets as cargo through approved pet transport services. Learn more about.
Can my assistance dog still travel in the cabin for free?
There are no changes to the way assistance animals are transported on board Virgin Australia flights, and we will continue to provide this service free of charge. If you're traveling with an assistance animal, learn more here.
footnote
*A 2022 study by Animal Medicines Australia found that 69 per cent of Australian households own a pet, with approximately 29 million pets living in Australia. Read the full report 'Australia's Pets: A Study of Pets and People' here.
**Virgin Australia market research of 643 Australian travelers, April 2023. Of the 426 pet owners, 286 gave zero or more answers to the question, “If the airline allowed it, how often would you most likely fly with your pet on a plane?” Selected. 164 pet owners asked, “Would you fly more often per year if you could fly with your pet on the plane? – Selected option.”
