ITA Airways will introduce a new service allowing pets weighing up to 30 kilograms to travel in the aircraft cabin on domestic flights, marking a significant expansion of its pet-friendly offering.
The initiative follows recent regulatory changes introduced by the Italian Civil Aviation Authority, ENAC. Building on a successful demonstration flight last September — which carried two large dogs in the cabin without carriers on the route between Milan Linate Airport and Rome Fiumicino Airport — the airline has worked to meet the operational and service requirements needed to extend the concept commercially.
Chief Executive Officer and General Manager Joerg Eberhart said the company’s objective was to convert the trial into a structured domestic product, branded “Large Pet Friendly.”
“We have worked to build continuity from that experience and turn it into a service available on our domestic flights,” Eberhart said in a statement. “This decision stems from listening to our passengers and from the understanding that pets are part of the family. We want every journey to begin and end together, without separation.”
The carrier is finalizing operational and commercial preparations and expects to place the service on sale during the next IATA summer season. This timeline is intended to allow customers to plan travel with their pets as early as the upcoming spring and summer period.
The move underscores ITA Airways’ broader positioning around customer inclusivity, while emphasizing full compliance with aviation regulations and the airline’s established safety and service standards.
From a market perspective, the initiative reflects a wider industry trend toward differentiated ancillary services aimed at strengthening customer loyalty and capturing premium leisure demand — particularly among travelers increasingly unwilling to place medium- and large-sized pets in the cargo hold.
Via ANSA
