The International Air Transport Association (Iata) presented a new set of global operational directives on Wednesday concerning the transportation of pets in aircraft cabins. These rules aim to eliminate inconsistencies in existing regulations that passengers face when flying with cats and dogs.
This step was taken against the backdrop of a growing number of passengers worldwide traveling with pets. This prompted Iata to unify procedures at all stages: from booking and check-in to security control, boarding, in-flight service, transit, and arrival.
The new guidelines were developed jointly by various Iata divisions, such as the Live Animals and Perishables Council, the In-Cabin Pet Transport Focus Group, the Live Animals Working Group, the Cargo Council, as well as working groups for ground operations and accessibility.
Under the new system, cats and dogs may fly in the cabin provided they meet Iata's CR1 standard. This standard requires the carrier to provide sufficient space for the animal, allowing it to stand, sit, lie down, and turn around. Booking usually needs to be made 48–72 hours before departure, and veterinary certificates, vaccination records, and airline forms should be provided in advance.
The industry is formalizing a new booking code—PETC, which stands for 'Pet in Cabin.' However, Iata warned that many third-party travel agencies and metasearch sites do not yet support pet bookings, which may require passengers to contact airlines directly.
Check-in staff are required to pass animals through an official acceptance checklist, verifying the animal's documentation, age, species, and condition before authorizing its flight. If the animal is sedated, a veterinarian's certificate regarding the administration of the drug is required. Critically, the directives stipulate that boarding 'must' be refused if the carrier does not meet the standards, or if the animal appears sick or distressed—a phrasing that significantly limits airlines' discretion.
At the gate, agents must ensure that carriers fit safely under a seat or are moved to another approved storage location. Flight attendants will now receive a full list of passengers traveling with animals before boarding begins, allowing them to plan seating arrangements in advance and note issues related to welfare or allergies.
Throughout the flight, especially during takeoff, landing, and turbulence, animals must remain inside their containers. During layovers, Iata urges airlines to inform passengers in advance about the availability of animal rest areas in connecting airports, as access varies greatly, and some airports do not have them at all.
Upon arrival, animals must remain in their crates until released by customs or veterinary services. Owners must carry passports, permits, and veterinary documents for their pets. Airlines have also been instructed to prepare contingency plans for rare cases of border refusal for the animal.
The directives also apply to failure scenarios, such as flight delays or cancellations. They mandate that airlines notify passengers traveling with pets in advance and coordinate actions with airport and veterinary authorities if the animals are subject to prolonged confinement.
Iata separately emphasized the distinction between the new pet rules and the parallel Guide for Service Dogs. According to this guide, service animals continue to have the right to fly freely in the cabin according to existing accessibility rules. Regarding emotional support animals—which are not universally recognized—they may be treated as regular pets depending on the airline and destination country.
The association noted that these rules do not supersede the individual policy of each airline but are aimed at reducing confusion, minimizing service disputes, and protecting schedule adherence, as pet travel becomes more common. Iata invited the industry to provide feedback through its Secretariat for further refinement of this structure.
The European Parliament has adopted an updated set of rules concerning the protection of the rights of people traveling by air. These new regulations uphold existing passenger rights to free hand luggage and compensation in case of flight delays or cancellations, while also introducing additional guarantees when purchasing and booking airline tickets. Most of these changes will come into force in 2027.
The approval of the new regulation took over ten years of negotiations. Since 2013, legislators have been working to strengthen the protection of rights, despite opposition from several EU countries and representatives of the aviation industry. During the vote, the document was supported by 646 deputies, while 12 voted against, and three abstained.
The new provisions maintain the previous system of payments for long delays or flight cancellations. Passengers are entitled to compensation if a plane arrives with a significant delay or the flight is cancelled. For flights longer than 3,500 kilometers, compensation is set at 300 euros, and 600 euros for a delay exceeding four hours or a complete cancellation. A claim can be filed within nine months. The airline must review the request and make the payment or provide a justified refusal citing force majeure circumstances within thirty days.
The regulation also enshrines the right of passengers to carry one personal item free of charge, provided its dimensions do not exceed 40x30x15 centimeters. Furthermore, air carriers are now required to specify in ticket services and websites whether the fare includes hand luggage during booking. However, companies retain the option to offer more budget-friendly options to those who agree to forgo carrying this luggage.
The new measures also apply to the ticket issuance process. Airlines can no longer demand an extra fee for correcting errors in the passenger's name. Travelers are given the option to use a digital boarding pass free of charge, eliminating the need to create an account or install a specific carrier application.
It is separately noted that Uzbekistan Airports previously joined the international Airport Carbon Accreditation program, which assesses and verifies airports' efforts to reduce and manage carbon emissions.
