“A turning point for passengers.” Italians welcomed large dogs on the plane
In Italy, the first two large dogs traveled by plane with the owners. During the demonstrative flight, Honey and Moka were not in the transporter. It is not known when the airlines will implement a new service.
Traveling with pets on board the aircraft are not a standard privilege in airlines. Most European carriers agree that passengers are accompanied only by small animals (e.g. in LOT Polish Airlines they are a dog, cat or ferret). Their weight (usually up to 8 kg) is a limitation. Larger animals can travel in a luggage hatch, which for many of them is a huge stress.
Large dogs flew by plane in Italy
The Italians went a step further. A few months ago, the Ministry of Transport relieved the regulations regarding the transport of animals in the space for passengers. With the consent of the Italian ENAC Civil Aviation Office, large dogs can fly in the aircraft cabin with the owners, provided that the animals are “properly secured” during the flight.
The first demonstration flight with dogs traveling on new principles caught the attention of the Italian media. On September 23, Honey and Moka dogs, a hybrid and 11-year-old female Labrador, flew on board the ITA Airways aircraft from Milan to Rome. The photo with Moka was taken by the Italian Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Matteo Salvini. He added that this is a “turning point” for passengers. There was also Michel Vittoria Brambilla, chairwoman of the Parliamentary Group for Animal Rights and Environmental Protection, which paved the way to change. She reminded that the trips of pets in the luggage hatch were associated with stress, hypothermia, and even ended with deaths.
The animals behaved differently. Moka slept a flight, and Honey reportedly showed “some concern after landing.” Passengers approached the dogs to stroke them and take pictures of them.
What should flights with animals look like? There are a few fears
Initially, it was reported that on the new rules, animals must also be transported in a special transporter, “properly attached” to sitting on the plane. However, the pictures and films show that the dogs traveled without him – they lay at the owner who took the place by the window. They were on a leash and lay on mats.
Opinions about the new rules are divided. The Codacons consumer -protecting organization believes that “large dogs in aircraft cabs pose a threat.” She also mentioned concerns about the comfort of travelers, including Possible whimper and barking, which may interfere with others, arranging through the animal on board or its unforeseen reaction to turbulence.
“We are not opposed to the presence of animals on board aircraft, but the ENAC guidelines, in their current sound, create more than one problem and threaten with inconvenience to passengers, deterioration of the quality of the flight,” the organization noted.
For now, it is not known which airlines will allow for joint travels of this type and when new rules will apply. Other passengers are to be informed at the time of booking or on board the aircraft there will be animals.
