Virgin Australia has announced it will be allowing small cats and dogs on specific domestic routes within the next 12 months.
The news has been met with a mixed response, with some commenters on social media excited to bring their pets on holidays, and others worried about allergies.
On the ABC News Facebook page, there were just as many “woo!” comments as there were people saying “no!”
“Cats being chased by dogs up and down the aisles now that's in-flight entertainment for the passengers,” one user commented.
“About time we caught up with the rest of the world,” another said.
A disappointed passenger wrote: “just perfect if you've flown Virgin Australia all your life and now you won't be able to as you're allergic to cats.”
“This is not good. Kind of disgusting really. Now passengers have to put up with barking dogs on flights on top of everything else that comes with air travel,” another person wrote.
These are some of your pressing questions answered:
How will they manage passengers with allergies?
Concerns about pet allergies was one of the most common comments after the announcement.
A Virgin Australia spokesperson said the company would be spending the next few months designing a safe proposition, with strict rules to manage this issue.
The spokesperson said pets would be limited to a small number of designated rows and would not be allowed to roam freely or sit on laps.
“Cabin airflow dynamics (air circulating from top to bottom), the renewal of cabin air 20-30 times per hour and use of hospital grade HEPA filtration in our aircraft (which captures greater than 99 per cent of airborne particles) mean the risk of allergy-triggering particles being circulated on-board is low,” the spokesperson said.
They said the airline has robust systems in place for guests who have severe allergies to identify themselves, so those risks for these guests could be mitigated and arrangements put in place prior to travel.
“We also want to point out that pets in cabin flights work effectively overseas and we believe there's no reason why they won't work in Australia too,” the spokesperson said.
How will animals cope with air travel?
RSPCA Australia Chief Science Officer, Suzie Fowler, said while there were risks associated with air travel for any type of pet, travelling in the cabin was generally a preferable option to pets travelling in the cargo with the right safeguards in place.
“If animals are in the cabin, owners or caregivers should ensure that their animals are under control, socialised to other animals and people and are calm and comfortable when travelling,” Dr Fowler said.
“Travel can be stressful for animals, so we recommend that owners start preparing them for travel at least a few weeks beforehand.
“This includes getting them comfortable with their container (for example, by placing it somewhere they like to relax in the house and making it as inviting as possible, such as with your pet's favourite bedding, toys and treats) — hopefully meaning that they associate the container with good things and positive feelings.
“Ensure that any container complies with International Air Transport Association regulations, and that the animal has enough space to turn around normally while standing, to stand and sit erect, and to lie in a natural position.”
Dr Fowler warned that some flat-faced breeds such as British Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, pugs, Boston terriers and Persian cats are at greater risk of heat stress. She said that owners should be aware of the increased risk that comes with air travel.
She recommended owners consult their vet prior to travel for an assessment of the animal's suitability for travel, regardless of whether it is in cargo or in the passenger cabin.
What steps are being taken to manage the extra mess and noise?
A Virgin Australia spokesperson said these finer details would be revealed in due course following appropriate stakeholder consultation and regulatory approval.
