The Deputy Minister Rixi (MIT), the President of the Italian Civil Aviation Authority Di Palma and CEO of ITA Airways Eberhart describe the Italian experience to permit pets to fly until 25 kgs on board, near the owners

Italy is leading change in the global skies. In the wake of ITA’s first demonstrative flight with a large-size pet in the cabin aboard with Minister Matteo Salvini, Enac, the Italian Civil Aviation Authority, presented in a specific Sky Talk during the 42nd General Assembly of ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization), being held in Montréal (23 September–3 October), the contents of its Information Paper dedicated to the welfare of pets in air transport, to initiate a process for developing shared rules at the international level. 

The President of Enac Pierluigi Di Palma, the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Edoardo Rixi, head of the Italian delegation (see AVIONEWS), and the CEO of the airline ITA Airways Joerg Eberhart outlined Enac’s project for an even more pet-friendly sector attentive to the needs of our four-legged friends.

For the first time, a civil aviation authority is proposing worldwide inclusivity standards that would allow pets up to 25 kg to travel in the cabin next to their owners, without a carrier, as members of the family (see AVIONEWS). 

“Pets should not be considered baggage. The near future of air transport, thanks to the innovations introduced by Enac, recognizes this reality and seeks to reconcile safety, inclusion and welfare, also in implementation of what is set out in Article 9 of our Constitution, as amended in 2022,” said Enac President Pierluigi Di Palma.

Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Edoardo Rixi said: “Italy has brought an innovative issue to the Assembly that places it among the most advanced countries in the field of air transport: safeguarding animal welfare on board. A priority that goes beyond the traditional view of companion animals as luggage and that reflects the evolution of society and passenger rights. With domestic traffic expected to exceed 260 million passengers by 2030 and an estimated ratio of one dog for every four people in Europe, Italy proposes an inclusive approach that integrates safety, respect for travelers’ rights and attention to pets. The government and Enac thus strengthen themselves as an international reference in building a more modern, safe and inclusive aviation. A leadership that consolidates our country’s role in the global arena where the future of air transport is decided". 

The lead for an inclusive aviation is Italian: from the constitutional reform that protects animals, to the national law on pet welfare, to the innovative guidelines introduced by Enac that mark a paradigm shift. With these rules the Italian civil aviation authority has for the first time opened the way to a more flexible regulatory approach oriented to welfare. A concrete step, appreciated by the Government as evidenced by the presence of Vice President Salvini, which has already been demonstrated through the first flight with two fare-paying dogs on board from Milan to Rome to verify operational compatibility and animal comfort. 

With the document presented in Montréal, Italy brought this issue to the attention of the 193 Member States of the UN agency, requesting that ICAO standards be adapted to recognize animal welfare as an integral part of global aeronautical policies.

“The aviation of the future must be more inclusive: flying with one’s animals is not a privilege, but a right that reflects social evolution", concluded Di Palma. 

Transport in the hold can entail stress, trauma and risks for animals. The positive experience gained with assistance dogs on board demonstrates that coexistence in the cabin is possible and beneficial for all. The Italian guidelines establish progressive and innovative rules: dedicated check-in counters, buffer zones on board, HEPA filters for those who suffer from allergies, health and behavioral certifications. Practical solutions, already operational, that thus combine safety and civility.