DOWNLOAD VIDEO NEWS RELEASE (VNR)
Thursday 7 March 2024: Virgin Australia has introduced its intention to be the nation’s first airline to function flights with pets onboard beneath a plan unveiled right now.
The Australian-first service, which may have pet-lovers rejoicing across the nation, is topic to regulatory approval, and is predicted to launch inside 12 months.
In a social media survey of Virgin Australia’s Facebook followers in 2021, 85 per cent of respondents voted in favour of the airline launching pets in cabin flights. In extra recent analysis carried out by Virgin Australia with Australian pet house owners, practically 70 per cent of respondents suggested they might journey with their pet within the cabin, with 57 per cent saying they might fly extra repeatedly if the service was a actuality.
Almost all main carriers in North America supply a pets onboard service for home flights, together with United Airlines and Air Canada.
Proposed pets in cabin in-flight expertise
For the consolation of all visitors, Virgin Australia has right now introduced numerous parameters for pets in cabin flights:
The service shall be restricted to small cats and dogs on particular home routes;
Pets shall be restricted to a restricted variety of designated rows and won’t be allowed to roam freely or sit on laps;
Pets should even be carried in a Virgin Australia accredited pet service beneath the seat in entrance of the proprietor all through the flight.
CEO Commentary
Speaking at a press convention at Melbourne Airport, Virgin Australia Group CEO, Jayne Hrdlicka, stated Virgin Australia is thrilled to lastly reveal its plans to be the primary Australian airline to supply pets onboard flights.
“Our love for animals has always been in the Virgin Australia DNA and we are excited at the prospect of taking off with Australia’s first-ever pets in cabin flights,” stated Ms Hrdlicka.
“Overwhelmingly, our visitors inform us they wish to journey with their pets, and we are actually on a journey to make {that a} actuality. It’s one thing that generally occurs abroad and is confirmed to work properly.
“Almost 70 per cent of Australian households have a pet, so this announcement is admittedly vital for a big proportion of the nation. It’s additionally an important factor for pet-friendly lodging suppliers who will profit significantly from elevated connectivity and the benefit for travellers to fly with their pets. It actually shall be an entire new financial system for pet journey in Australia.
“Pets on flights is one other instance of Virgin Australia main the way in which with new and improved service choices and first-to-market experiences for our visitors.
“Innovation has always been a hallmark of Virgin Australia. We were the first airline in the country to offer online check-in. This year we were the first Australian airline to launch baggage tracking and a fully integrated self-service disruption management tool. It’s this innovation and first-to-market drive that underpins who we are in the market,” she stated.
Melbourne Airport CEO, Lorie Argus stated the airport was wanting ahead to serving to Virgin Australia ship the Australian-first.
“We’ve been investing significant effort into providing relief areas for assistance animals and these facilities have ample capacity to serve Virgin Australia’s new guests,” she stated.
“Animals being carried on board Virgin Australia flights shall be required to stay of their accredited pet carriers in any respect different instances throughout the terminal.
“We expect the pets in cabin concept will prove a popular offering and we look forward to working with Virgin Australia to make it a reality.”
More particulars on pets in cabin flights, together with available routes, and the cost for bringing a pet onboard, shall be introduced sooner or later.
No modifications to help animals
The proposed pets in cabin flights won’t lead to any change to accredited help animals with the ability to journey within the cabin of Virgin Australia plane at no extra cost. The present process for assessing the eligibility of those help animals to journey onboard won’t change. Additionally, Virgin Australia will proceed to supply pets to be transported as cargo by way of accredited pet service providers, as this stays an necessary a part of the Virgin Australia pet providing.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
For the consolation of all visitors and crew, pets shall be restricted to a small variety of designated rows on eligible routes and won’t be allowed to roam freely or sit on laps. Animals should even be carried in a Virgin Australia accredited pet service beneath the seat in entrance of the proprietor all through the flight.
Virgin Australia will cost a payment for visitors who’re eligible to carry their pet onboard.
The service is topic to regulatory approval and is more likely to launch inside 12 months, pending planning and stakeholder session.
Virgin Australia will proceed to supply pets to be transported as cargo by way of accredited pet service providers. More info, right here.
Approved help animals will proceed to have the ability to journey within the cabin of Virgin Australia plane at no cost.
Virgin Australia has all the time been an advocate of their furry visitors transported within the cargo maintain, comparable to:
Chad the Virgin Australia Baggage Handler from Perth, turned canine whisperer, who talks to pets earlier than he masses them onto flights. View.
Pip, the stranded dachshund reunited with its house owners following a worldwide journey amid the pandemic. Read.
FOOTNOTES
*In a survey by Animal Medicines Australia in 2022, it was discovered that 69 per cent of Australian households personal a pet, with almost 29 million pets calling Australia home. Read the total report “Pets in Australia: A survey of pets and people”, right here.
** Virgin Australia market analysis in April 2023 of 643 Australian travellers. Out of the 426 pet house owners, 286 chosen greater than zero to the query “If it was allowed by the airline, how typically would you almost certainly fly along with your pet(s) within the cabin?”. 164 pet house owners chosen they might take not less than one additional return flight a 12 months to the query “Would being able to fly with your pet in the cabin increase the number of flights you take per year? – Selected Choice”.
