By Krista Halling DVM DACVS
In a groundbreaking move for dog lovers who travel, Italy has updated its air travel regulations to allow medium and large dogs to fly in the cabin alongside their humans.
Until now, most airlines only permitted small pets (typically under 8–10 kg) to travel in-cabin, with larger dogs relegated to the cargo hold. But under new rules approved by Italy’s civil aviation authority (ENAC), dogs of all sizes can now stay with their owners in the passenger cabin—a huge win for animal welfare and stress-free travel.
Here’s what we know so far:
• Dogs must be in a secure carrier that can be placed on the seat and fastened using seat belts or similar systems.
• There’s no strict weight cap, but the combined weight of dog and carrier must not exceed what an average passenger would weigh.
• Each airline will set its own policies and pricing, so be sure to check with your carrier before booking.
This change was championed by Italy’s Transport Minister Matteo Salvini, who called it a “battle of common sense and civility.” We agree—keeping dogs with their humans during air travel just makes sense.
We’ll update this story as more airlines publish their specific in-cabin policies. For now, Italy sets a promising precedent that we hope other countries will follow. Gracie, Italia! 🇮🇹
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