Let airlines allow pets in the airplane’s cabin to and from the UK

Change the rules on animal travel so they can travel with their owners (with all the documentation and vaccines in order) inside airplane cabins instead of in the hold with luggage.

It is allowed in many other countries around the world, including in the EU, South America, and the USA.

Pets are often seen as an extension of the family. Many airlines allow pets up to 9kg to travel to most countries inside the airplane cabin, in their pet carrier, instead of in the cargo hold.

However, they are not allowed on commercial flights coming to the UK, regardless of their size.

This can not only distress the pets and owners, but can also risk their health and safety. There are cases of pets that are treated as manifest cargo being killed, injured or lost.

We understand that many pet owners would like to travel with their pets in the aircraft cabin to Great Britain (GB). However, we need to balance this against our biosecurity requirements. We have amongst the highest standards of animal welfare and biosecurity in the world. The Government is committed to preserving this and takes the importation of pets seriously.  

All pets (cats, dogs and ferrets) travelling into Great Britain are checked for compliance with the necessary health and documentary requirements prior to entry. To facilitate these checks, all pets entering airports in GB must be transported safely and securely to the pet checking facility which is separate from the passenger terminals. Operations at airports are sensitive and complex, and other vital border controls also need to be considered. In practice, this means that most pets are required to travel to GB by air as ‘manifest cargo’. This enables the pets to be transferred directly to the pet checking facility and not through the main airport terminal. This approach ensures that a documentary record of the pet’s arrival is available to customs and other border control officials.

Where animals are transported in the hold, there are rigorous requirements in place to make sure that their welfare needs are met during transport. Carriers must make sure that air quality and quantity, temperature and pressure is maintained whilst the animals are onboard. The length of journey determines how much food and water must also be provided.

There are also stringent requirements in place for pet transport containers under the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Live Animals Regulations (LAR), with space and ventilation concerns paramount.