Air Canada to let dogs and cats travel in cabin as hand-luggage from July 1, 2009

Air Canada, the flag-carrier airline of Canada, and its regional airline Jazz will allow passengers to take pets such as dogs and cats board as hand-luggage from July 1, 2009.

However, pets are not allowed on flights to or from the United Kingdom.

At present, Air Canada allows pets to travel only in containers as checked baggage. Pets Only Airline launched

Air Canada and Jazz will let customers book a space under their seats for a pet for travel from July 1, 2009, for a fee of $50 (£30) for a domestic flight in North America and $100 for international flights.

In a statement, Air Canada, based in Montreal and also the biggest airline in Canada, said that, in order to ensure availability of space, passengers have to register their pet by contacting Air Canada Reservations within 24 hours of completing their booking.

Owners of pets are to stow the animals in leak-proof carriers that weigh a total of not more than 10 kilograms (22 lb).

As a rule, a maximum of four pets will be allowed in one flight. The number of animals that could be carried on a flight would be limited to between two and four, depending on the type of plane, “out of consideration for passengers who have pet-related allergies,” Air Canada explained.

The airline also said that it would consider the “needs of passengers with allergies” when allocating seats to those passengers with pets.

It may be noted that Pet Airways – an airline that will fly cats and dogs between five cities in the United States – is being launched in July 2009. Pet Airways will use a Beechcraft 1900 plane that can hold 50 animals as well as a crew of two pilots and one pet attendant.

Air Canada’s policy on carrying pets on flights has changed many times over the last few years.
Air Canada had, in September 2006, become Canada’s first carrier to bar pets – excepting guide dogs – from its cabins on domestic flights, citing the “health and safety” of its passengers as the reasons for the decision.
And, in July 2007, Air Canada barred pets even in the baggage compartment, saying that the carrier was forced to take that decision owing to “record load factors” in the previous 3 years, coupled with new security measures that required passengers to check more luggage.

Air Canada had to fight a prolonged legal battle after it stopped letting pets fly as checked baggage in 2007. The Canadian Air Transportation Agency ruled, in 2008, against the decision and ordered that the airline must transport pets. However, the Federal Court of Appeal quashed the Canadian Air Transportation Agency’s ruling and supported Air Canada’s stand.
The airline changed its policy again, with the effect that pets are now allowed to be carried on flights which have a baggage compartment that is temperature-controlled and ventilated.

On the carrier’s move on transporting pets on flights, Ben Smith, executive vice-president and chief commercial officer of Air Canada, said in the statement that it was “the latest of our customer-friendly initiatives that underscores our renewed commitment to listening to our customers and offering a competitive product that meets their needs.”