Allow small pets to travel in the cabin on flights entering the UK

Allow airlines, under DEFRA guidance, to offer an in-cabin travel option for small, fully documented pets on flights entering the UK, in line with international standards for other countries.

Many countries, including within the EU, USA, Canada, and Ireland, generally allow small, vaccinated, and microchipped pets to travel safely in the cabin, though requirements vary between different countries and airlines. The UK requires cargo travel even for very small animals, which can be stressful for the pets and costly for their owners. I believe allowing an in-cabin option would improve welfare and align the UK more closely with widely used global practices while maintaining biosecurity.

The Government takes the importation of pets seriously and is committed to preserving high standards of biosecurity and animal welfare. We understand that many pet owners would like to travel with their pets in the aircraft cabin to Great Britain (GB). However, this needs to be balanced against our biosecurity requirements and the operational complexities of conducting various border controls at airports.

All pets (cats, dogs and ferrets) travelling into GB must be checked for compliance with the necessary health and documentary requirements prior to entry. This includes checking that the relevant rabies vaccination and tapeworm treatment requirements have been met. Rabies is a lethal disease in unvaccinated people and animals. GB is rabies free due to our high standards of biosecurity, and it is very much in the interests of humans and animals here that we protect our disease-free status and therefore the population.

Current operational arrangements at GB airports mean that most pets must travel in the hold to ensure that these checks are carried out. To facilitate these checks, all pets entering airports in GB must be transported safely and securely to the pet checking facility which is separate to the passenger terminals. Operations at airports are sensitive and complex, and other vital border controls must be considered as part of their operational processes.

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

Currently, the only animals that are authorised to travel in the cabin of a commercial aircraft into GB are Recognised Assistance Dogs. The number of Recognised Assistance Dogs in the cabin will be determined by the airline and may be restricted for health and safety reasons depending on passenger information and numbers.

The Government is content that the existing pet travel arrangement ensures the necessary import checks have been conducted to safeguard our domestic biosecurity and maintain animal welfare standards whilst working within the complex operational arrangements of an airport.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs