BARK Air: A New Airline Designed For Dogs Launches in May

by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 6:10 PM ET, Thu April 11, 2024

As dog owners far and wide can attest, flying with a canine companion is not necessarily easy, or stress-free.

That includes for the dog in question - not just the owner.

Between finding an airline that allows dogs onboard to getting a dog carrier that's small enough to fit under the seat, (while also being big enough to accommodate your four-legged friend comfortably), the entire process is fraught with challenges.

Enter: BARK Air.

Billing itself as the world’s first air travel experience designed with the needs of dogs as the number one priority, the airline allows canine companions to travel comfortably with their owners.

“Traveling long distances with a dog is a challenge many dog parents face, particularly for those dogs that don’t fit into a carrier that can be placed under the seat in front,” the company said in a statement. “Too often, dogs are denied travel, confined to a duffle bag, or endure the stress of flying in cargo.”

BARK’s emergence on the market is a long overdue recognition of such issues, and comes at a time when there is increasing demand for safe, accessible travel options for pets.

The ensure that its canine travelers are comfortable when flying, the cabins on BARK Air flights will be prepped with a variety of calming aids including pheromone, music and even warm lavender scented refreshment towels.

Dogs and their owners who fly on BARK will also be provided with a “just in case” bag at the gate that's filled with even more dog-friendly necessities, including calming treats, leashes, and poop bags.

The company says BARK Air has taken the white glove experience typical of a human’s first-class experience and redirected all that pampering to dogs. And that pampering is meant to cover every step of the process from booking to arrival, to in-flight services and disembarkation.

BARK promises that “dogs will truly be the VIPs and treated to a positively luxurious, curated experience.” To that end, there will be no crates required for dogs onboard. Man's best friend is free to sit on your lap, a seat, on the floor, in a dog bed, or wherever the dog feels comfortable. (Excluding the cockpit.)

And one more feature dogs are sure to love: Dogs must remain on leash as the plane is taxiing and during taking off and landing, but other than that - leashes are entirely optional.

Need more specifics about BARK Air? Here are some additional highlights:

Following booking, humans will be contacted by a BARK Air concierge to collect information about each dog and their human’s travel plans to ensure the best possible experience.
On travel day, dogs and their companions will arrive at the airport 45 to 60 minutes before takeoff for a simple, efficient check-in process where dogs can meet other furry friends on their flight while their people are treated to meals prepared by onsite chefs – no crates, stressful TSA checkpoints, or screening.
Before boarding, a highly skilled BARK Air concierge will welcome dogs at the gate to help them settle into their experience through socialization and dog-centric cabin preparation. The BARK Air concierge will also evaluate each dog to ensure they are enjoying their experience and adapting to the new environment and if additional attention and care is needed prior to boarding or once on board.
Also prior to boarding, the plane will be treated to a “Dogs Fly First” flight prep with calming pheromones, music, and colors that pups prefer. All furry passengers will have access to various aids such as calming treats, noise-canceling ear muffs, and calming jackets to ensure a stress-free and enjoyable flight.
Once onboard, dogs will be served their beverage of choice during ascent and descent to ensure they do not experience any ear discomfort commonly caused by changes in cabin pressure. Additionally, a variety of BARK-branded treats, snacks, and surprises will be provided throughout the flight with the intent of pampering furry passengers and their humans.

The new airline started taking reservation today and flights will begin on May 23.

The start-up flight schedule is somewhat limited for the time being. BARK flights are available from from New York City (via the Westchester County Airport) to Los Angeles, California or London, England (via Stansted Airport.)

However, BARK’s Chief Financial officer, Zahir Ibrahim, says the airline may add flights to its schedule dynamically, based on need.

“Given we are not committed to booking flights far in advance, we have a lot of flexibility to opportunistically charter flights during times of high demand,” Ibrahim explained in a statement.

The BARK Air website further explains that there are plans to add more destinations - both domestically and internationally - in the future. The compan also encourages consumers to reach out if there's a specific destination you'd like to see offered.

But before dog owners coast-to-coast get too excited about BARK Air, it's important to note that the flights do not come cheap. An average ticket between New York and Los Angeles, for instance, is a steep $6,000. And here's the fine print about that ticket: Each "dog" ticket includes a pass for one human cost-free. However, if you want to bring more than one human on the flight, you'll have to pay for an additional pass. And one last note: kids (those under 18) are not allowed on BARK Air.

So while you can finally travel with your beloved dog, if you have children too, the hunt for the ideal airline continues.

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