Air Travel Regulations for Transporting Pets

Traveling with pets can be highly appealing—and sometimes essential—for people who are closely attached to their animals. You may be planning a long-term trip or immigration and be unable to leave your pet behind. In such cases, it is important to be familiar with airline regulations regarding pet transportation.

In General, Pets Can Be Transported by Air in Two Ways:

 

1. Through Cargo Services (CARGO)

Cargo companies and freight terminals provide services for transporting both domestic and wild animals. If a passenger is unable to travel with their pet for any reason, the animal can be entrusted to these companies along with the required destination-country documents. The pet will be delivered at the destination airport’s cargo release area to the designated recipient.

2. As Accompanied Passenger Baggage

If you intend to take your pet with you on a flight, keep the following points in mind:

• Since every country has its own regulations regarding animal entry, be sure to check the destination country's pet import rules before taking any action.

 

• Before purchasing your ticket, contact the airline to learn about its pet transportation policies. Animals are generally not accepted on aircraft whose cargo compartments do not have proper ventilation.

 

• On most flights, especially with many Iranian and European airlines, pets are not permitted inside the passenger cabin. They are checked in as baggage and must be collected from the baggage claim area at the destination airport.

 

• Pets that may be transported as accompanied baggage include dogs, cats, and ornamental birds.

Pet Crates and Carriers

Not every cage or carrier is suitable for air travel. Special airline-approved pet crates are designed for transporting animals safely, and selecting the right one is very important.

Requirements for a Suitable Pet Crate:

• The crate must be large enough for the animal to stand, turn around, and sit comfortably.
• It must be sturdy and in good condition.
• It should have proper ventilation on at least three sides.
• The door must have a secure locking mechanism.
• The crate should not have wheels.

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Required Pet Travel Documents

 

• Pet identification booklet for domestic flights and pet passport for international flights.
• Health and vaccination records.
• For international flights, an original international health certificate issued by the veterinary authority of the origin or destination country.
• Please note that for countries such as Oman, the United Kingdom, the UAE, and Qatar, pets generally cannot travel as accompanied baggage and must be transported through cargo services.

 

Cost of Transporting Pets by Air

When traveling with a pet, there is no need to purchase a separate ticket for the animal. According to airline regulations, pet transportation charges are calculated as excess baggage fees. Therefore, your regular baggage allowance cannot be used for transporting pets.

The chargeable weight is calculated as follows:

 

Weight of Dog or Cat + Weight of Crate = Chargeable Excess Weight × 2

Weight of Ornamental Birds + Weight of Cage = Chargeable Excess Weight × 4

Important Tips for Air Transport of Pets

• Each passenger may travel with a maximum of 2 dogs or cats or up to 10 ornamental birds.
• A mother animal may travel in the same crate with up to three offspring, provided each weighs no more than 2 kg.
• The minimum age for transporting young animals by air is 10 weeks.
• Feed your pet a light meal several hours before departure.
• Provide sufficient food and water in the crate according to the flight duration.
• Attach your contact information (address and phone number) to the crate.
• If your pet requires special care, write the instructions and attach them to the crate.
• Sick or very elderly animals are generally not permitted to fly.
• Aggressive, restless, or uncontrollable animals are generally not permitted to fly.
• Wild animals, non-ornamental birds, reptiles, aquatic animals, and insects can only be transported through cargo services (CARGO).