26 Sep
DGCA Instructs Airlines to Highlight Pet Travel Policies on Their Websites
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has instructed airlines to compile and highlight pet travel policies on their websites. Airlines are permitted to transport animals, birds, and reptiles to and from India. As of now, Air India and Akasa Air allow pets to travel with their owners in the cabin and cargo hold. Spicejet also allows pets to travel domestically, but only in the cargo hold.
A DGCA official said the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) hasn’t issued any guidelines pertaining to pet travel in the cabin of an aircraft. In other countries, like the U.S.A for instance, the governing body allows airline to have their respective policies for pet travel.
As for the rest of the world, airlines are not held to one general policy, and are allowed to formulate their own standard operating procedures for pet travel. The same goes for India.
The DGCA echoed this, stating “All airlines are advised to formulate and prominently display on their websites policy of carriage of pets for better understanding of the passengers”. Airlines are recommended to formulate their own policies, as the pilot in charge is responsible for the safety of the flight.
AUTHOR’S BIO
Carry My Pet
Passionate pet enthusiasts and globetrotters, dedicated to easing furry friends' journeys worldwide. Penning tales of compassion at CarryMyPet, where every relocation is a tail-wagging adventure.