NEW GUIDELINES ADDRESS A FRACTURED AND INCONSISTENT GLOBAL EXPERIENCE

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released Edition 1 of its Operational Guidelines for In-Cabin Pet Transport, published on 15 July 2026 through the collaborative efforts of the IATA Live Animals and Perishables Board, the In-Cabin Pet Transport Focus Unit, the Live Animals Working Group, the IATA Cargo Handling Council, and the Ground Operations Standards Passengers and Baggage Subgroup and Accessibility Working Group. The guidelines provide airlines with step-by-step recommended procedures aligned with the passenger-facing stages of the pet travel journey, from booking at origin through to customs clearance at the destination.

Brendan Sullivan, IATA’s Global Head of Cargo, said a pet was a much-loved member of the family and that people travelling with their pets needed clear guidance on what to expect at every step of the journey. He said well-prepared travellers and industry-wide best practices enabled airlines to deliver a safe, consistent and efficient experience. The impetus for the guidelines is evident in IATA’s own data: the 2025 IATA Global Passenger Survey found that approximately one quarter of respondents had or would consider travelling with a pet, yet 41% cited uncertainty around pet eligibility as a challenge, 36% were unsure about airline policy, and 34% were unsure about the overall process of travelling with a pet.

BOOKING: ELIGIBILITY, PETC CODE AND ADVANCE RESERVATION

The guidelines confirm that, subject to airline policy, cats and dogs are permitted to travel in the cabin on commercial aircraft, provided they meet the criteria outlined in Container Requirement 1 (CR1) of the IATA Live Animals Regulations — requiring that the container allows the pet to stand, sit erect, lie in a natural position and turn around normally. Other animals may be accepted where they meet the same CR1 requirements. Airlines are directed to make their pet transport policy accessible and comprehensive, covering eligibility criteria, compliant container specifications and all applicable travel conditions, harmonised with the regulatory requirements of origin, transit and destination states.

Reservations for in-cabin pets should generally be made at least 48 to 72 hours before departure. The mandatory IATA Special Service Request code for registering a pet in the cabin is PETC; the guidelines specify that pet-in-cabin services should appear under the special baggage or additional services section of the booking flow, and that where an Electronic Miscellaneous Document is required, the SSR ASVC code should be linked to each individual passenger. Airlines are also instructed to notify passengers that not all travel agencies or metasearch platforms support pet-in-cabin bookings and to direct them to contact the airline directly where this applies.

CHECK-IN: DOCUMENTED ACCEPTANCE AND CONTAINER COMPLIANCE

At check-in, trained staff must use the airline’s acceptance checklist — referenced in IATA LAR section 7.6.2 — to verify the complete flight itinerary, confirm owner contact details, and inspect all required documentation including health certificates and vaccination records. The pet’s age and species eligibility must be confirmed, and the animal’s condition assessed; if a pet appears excessively lethargic or unresponsive, and sedation has been used, all relevant documentation including a Record of Administration must be present. If an animal appears unwell or distressed, boarding must be denied. Failure to meet any of the acceptance criteria must equally result in denied boarding.

SECURITY SCREENING, BOARDING AND IN-FLIGHT REQUIREMENTS

The guidelines note that security screening requirements vary by jurisdiction and may involve visual checks, physical inspections, metal detection, x-ray or explosive trace detection. In some jurisdictions, pets must be removed from their containers so that the animal and the container can be screened separately. At the gate, agents must verify that containers — both soft and rigid — comply with IATA LAR CR1 and can fit entirely under the seat in front of the passenger without compromising space or ventilation. As per the IATA Cabin Operations Safety Best Practices Guide, cabin crew must receive a Passenger Information List before boarding that clearly identifies PETC travellers, enabling seat placement verification, pet welfare monitoring and management of passenger sensitivities such as allergies.

In-flight, the pet must remain inside its container at all times, and the container must be stowed under the seat during taxi, take-off, landing and periods of turbulence. Airlines are directed to train cabin crew on accepted container dimensions, under-seat space across their fleet types, and how to address conflicts arising from allergies, phobias or other passenger sensitivities.

TRANSIT, DISEMBARKATION AND IRREGULAR OPERATIONS

On connections and transit, the guidelines acknowledge that airlines are not responsible for airport infrastructure, but direct them to proactively inform passengers about the availability and limitations of pet relief areas at transit airports, which vary significantly in provision. Some airports offer indoor relief stations beyond security; others only have outdoor facilities before check-in; many have no designated relief areas at all. At disembarkation, passengers must present their pets at a manned customs office or veterinary border control point and must not allow pets to roam freely in terminals or lounges. Airlines should advise passengers that quarantine requirements, breed-specific entry bans and limits on the number of pets per traveller vary by destination and must be researched in advance.

The guidelines give particular attention to irregular operations — delays, cancellations, diversions and rerouting — which can significantly affect pet welfare and regulatory compliance. Airlines are directed to establish documented procedures covering passenger communication, assessment of pet needs during extended confinement, temporary holding arrangements and documentation updates when rerouting crosses new jurisdictions. The guidelines close with a section distinguishing in-cabin pet travel from service animal and emotional support animal (ESA) travel: service animals typically travel free of charge under international and national regulations, while ESAs are not universally recognised and may be treated as standard in-cabin pets depending on the airline and destination country. IATA has separately released Guidance on Travelling with Service Dogs to address long-standing inconsistencies in that category.