By Stefaan Ghijs

Nowadays cats and dogs are seen as a full-fledged family member, many families face therefore the problem of leaving their pet back home in a kennel when they want to travel by air. Pet travel by airline is bound by the elaborate regulations of commercial airlines.

When traveling by airline you are allowed to carry your pet in the cabin when the pets’ length is not larger than 47 cm, its width 30 cm and its height 27 cm. The pet may also not exceed 10 kg and it must be placed under your seat in a special bag. The bag may not be opened or moved for safety reasons. This seems very stressful for the pet and very least comfortable. Albeit it is always better than putting them in a cage in the aircraft’s cargo hold.

Being treated like luggage is a traumatic experience for all animals, as the cramped conditions are not only cruel, but they are also dangerous. Tragically, every year there are numerous cases of pets being injured and even killed during commercial flights!
This is something you don’t want to happen with your family member. Many pet loving people therefore are looking for alternatives to traditional commercial flights. It is in the best interest of the animal to have a comfortable and relaxing flight like their owners do, and this is why Fly Aeolus treats every animal who flies with us like a VIP!

When flying privately you have the pet with you at all times. They will not be locked in the baggage compartment, instead they will sit next to you on a blanket nice and cosy! In our opinion this is the only way to be sure that your beloved pet is comfortable, relaxing and safe. Pet travel 2.0 at its best!

Although you can have your pet with you in a private jet or air taxi, pet travel does require some preparation. Therefore, we show our top 6 pet travel need to knows:

Best tips for flying with your pets

Cat flying in a private jet

1. Pet Travel to the United Kingdom

If you are travelling with your pet to the UK, your pet must meet the requirements of the Pet Travel Scheme that is offered by DEFRA. It allows pets to travel between some countries and UK airports avoiding quarantine. You can enter or return to the UK with your pet if it:

  • Has been microchipped.
  • Has a pet passport or third-country official veterinary certificate.
  • Has been vaccinated against rabies (it will also need a blood test if you’re traveling from an ‘unlisted country’)
  • Has received a tapeworm treatment. (Only for dogs)
  • Flies with an approved charter company approved to carry pets.
  • Lands on an approved airport that is allowed to check pets.

If you do not follow these rules your lovely pet can be put into quarantine for up to 4 months!!

Since Brexit you have to follow these additional rules:

  • Your pet must arrive in Great Britain no more than 5 days before or after you
  • You need to fill in a declaration confirming that you are not going to sell or transfer the ownership of your pet
  • You can give written permission for someone else to travel with your pet

2. Pet Travel from the United Kingdom to the EU

Upon entry in EU, your pet must meet the following conditions.
Every pet must have:

  • An identification chip: the pet must have been microchipped before being vaccinated against rabies.
  • A rabies vaccination: the first vaccination must have taken place at least 21 days before entry. Regular booster vaccinations are accepted as long as they have taken place in the required interval. Note that the animal must be at least 12 weeks old before it can be vaccinated. 
  • Have a European pet passport issued in an EU Member State or an Animal Health certificate (AHC) issued by the official authorities. The AHC is valid for 4 months and you have to re-entry before expiration.
Pet flying in a air taxi or private jet

3. Food and Water

Limit food and water intake, you should provide your pet with water before the flight, but not excessive consumption. This should reduce your pet’s need having to go to the bathroom during flight. Going for a walk before a flight will calm your pet’s nerves and allow it to go to the bathroom before the flight. In the best case he also will be tired from the walk, so he probably will sleep during the private flight.

Feeding pets smaller meals will also reduce the risk of vomiting or an upset stomach. After landing the pet might be hungry and thirsty. Allow the animal plenty of water and an appropriate amount of food and go for a walk so that the animal can acclimate.

4. Vet

Schedule an appointment with the vet to ensure that your pet received all the vaccinations necessary for travel. Be sure to let the vet know about your upcoming travel plans.

5. ID Tag

Make sure that your pet has ID tags with the latest data on it and that these are secure on their collar. If your pet runs off while you’re on travel, it is essential that he or she can be returned to you.

6. Toys

Don’t forget to bring your pet’s favorite toys. Even in the comfort of a private aircraft, travelling can be overwhelming for an animal so make the journey as easy and stress-free as possible.

7. Harness

Use a harness for your pet. Humans also need to buckle up for takeoff, landing and during turbulence, and this also applies for pets. Having a loose animal in the cabin during these stages of the flight can be dangerous. Some owners outfit their pets with harnesses that connect to the aircraft seat belt.

The flight that will be performed by a Fly Aeolus Air Taxi can take up to 5 hours maximum, depending on the passenger amount. With two persons and a pet the maximum endurance of the Cirrus SR22 aircraft will be 3 or 4 hours, enough to have a relaxing flight without the pet experiencing any stress! If you like to fly further, we can make a short stop so that the pet can have a short walk while we refuel the private aircraft.

Curious about our rates? Check out our online price calculator and book your next air taxi flight for you and your pet!



On our blog “All the answers for your questions when hiring an air taxi” you will find answers to many other questions that might come up when you want to book a private flight.

There is no question: flying by private jet or air taxi makes the trip easier on the pet and their owners! We would be delighted to help you and your pet to fly private, so for flight requests or for more information please do not hesitate to contact us at info@flyaeolus.com or call us at +32 (0)3 500 9082 , +31 (0)15 820 0999 or +49 (0)30 9789 6996.