The world’s leading air travel industry group is calling for clearer guidelines on flying with furry friends.
IATA has released new operational guidance to help airlines around the world better manage in-cabin travel with pets.
The guidance includes recommended procedures for carriers throughout the entire travel journey, including booking, check-in, boarding, the flight itself, and arrival.
Travelers who would like to travel with beloved pets often face much uncertainty around how to bring them along on their next flight.
According to a 2025 IATA passenger survey, 34% of travelers were unsure about the overall process of traveling with a pet, and 41% of fliers cited uncertainty around pet eligibility as a challenge.
“A pet is a much-loved member of the family. People traveling with their pets need clear guidance on what to expect at every step of the journey,” aid Brendan Sullivan, IATA’s global head of cargo. “That’s important because well-prepared travelers and industry-wide best practices enable airlines to deliver a safe, consistent, and efficient experience for those traveling with their pets.”
Despite uncertainties in the process, the number of pet owners traveling with dogs and cats is on the rise.
According to a 2024 survey from the American Pet Products Association, 22% of dog owners have taken their dogs on three or more trips with them by plane, up from 13% in 2022.
The same is true for cat owners, too: 22% of cat owners took their fur babies on three or more flights in 2024, up from 14% in 2022.
IATA says the goal of its new pet travel guidelines is to deliver a more predictable experience for pet owners while also ensuring animal safety and wellbeing as well as operational efficiency.
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