summary
- Virgin Australia will become the first Australian airline to offer pet-friendly flights, pending regulatory approval.
- Air travel is on the rise, with research showing 70% of Australian pet owners plan to travel with their pets on board.
- The service has specific rules and is limited to small cats and dogs on designated domestic routes with approved carriers.
The Virgin brand has long been synonymous with fun and now Virgin Australia is bringing smiles to the faces of pet owners across the country. The airline plans to become the first Australian airline to fly with pets, and hopes to launch the service within 12 months, subject to regulatory approval.
Australia's first
Before making today's announcement, Virgin Australia surveyed how Australians felt about traveling with their pets. In a 2021 social media survey of the company's Facebook followers, 85% of respondents voted in favor of allowing pets on Virgin Australia's flights.
Photo: Virgin Australia
Since then, the company has conducted its latest survey of Australian pet owners, which found that 70% of respondents would advise them to travel with their pet on board, and 57% said the service would be a reality. I answered that I would fly more regularly if I did so.
At Melbourne Airport today, Virgin Australia CEO Jane Hrdlicka said she was thrilled that the airline could finally reveal its plans to become the first Australian carrier to allow pets on board. He added that the company's love for animals is in its DNA.
“Overwhelmingly, our customers say they want to travel with their pets and we are now on a journey to make that happen. Innovation has always been a hallmark of Virgin Australia, and we were the first airline in the country to offer online check-in.
“This year, we became the first Australian airline to introduce a self-service disruption management tool that is fully integrated with baggage tracking. It is this innovation and first-to-market initiative that underpins our presence in the market. It is.”
The system has rules
Bringing pets on board is not uncommon in most countries, and nearly all major airlines in North America offer this service, including United Airlines and Air Canada. Of course, not everyone onboard Virgin Australia's Boeing 737 is a pet lover, so the airline has announced some parameters governing the service.
- 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.
Photo: Virgin Australia
With over 70% of Australian households owning a pet, Virgin Australia believes this new service will benefit pet-friendly accommodation providers. The airline said pet owners would benefit from improved connectivity and an easier way for travelers to bring their pets on planes.
Although there is a cost to bringing pets on board, the airline has also advised that there will be no changes to approved assistance animals traveling onboard Virgin Australia aircraft at no additional charge. The existing procedures for assessing eligibility for onboard travel for these assistance animals remain unchanged, and pets will continue to be transported as cargo through approved pet transportation services.
What do you think about bringing your pet on board? Let us know in the comments.
