ITA Airways has announced an expansion of its pet travel policy, introducing a new cabin service that will allow larger animals to fly alongside their owners on select domestic routes.
The move follows recent regulatory changes approved by ENAC, paving the way for pets weighing up to 30 kilograms to be transported in the cabin on designated “Large Pet Friendly” scheduled flights.
According to the airline, the initiative marks a significant shift in Italy’s aviation landscape, catering to growing demand from travelers seeking more inclusive and comfortable options for flying with their pets.
The relevant Italian airline – following the success of the demonstration flight that last September transported two large dogs from Milan Linate to Rome Fiumicino in the cabin without a carrier – continued to work tirelessly to ensure the operational and quality requirements necessary for passengers and their medium and large four-legged friends to travel together.
In a world where pets have become full members of families, the Company will also allow once-excluded pet owners to share trips and vacations side by side.
“Following the success of the demonstration flight in September, we worked to continue that experience by transforming it into a service available on our ‘Large Pet Friendly’ domestic flights. It’s a decision that comes from listening to our passengers and realizing that pets are part of the family: we want every journey to start and end together, without separation – says Joerg Eberhart, CEO and General Manager of ITA Airways – We are completing the final operational and commercial steps to put the service up for sale during the next IATA summer season, allowing passengers to schedule trips with their four-legged friends starting next spring/summer. ITA Airways thus confirms its commitment to making the flight increasingly inclusive, in full compliance with regulations and the highest safety and quality standards”.
ITA Airways confirms its attentive observation of passenger needs and the felt need for a more inclusive flight, after having been the first airline since 20 June 2024 to have expanded the weight limits for the transport of pets in the cabin on all domestic flights, increasing the maximum permitted weight by 25% (from 8 to 10 kg, to which are added the 2 kg of the carrier).
