It’s been 1.5 years in the making, but last month Virgin Australia finally got the green light to welcome small dogs and cats on board domestic flights. The Australian-first 'Pets in Cabin' service will launch as a trial on routes from Melbourne to the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, with the inaugural journey taking off on October 16. While pawrents across the country are already dreaming of holidays with their four-legged friends, there are a few rules you should know before booking a trip. Not all dog and cat breeds will be welcome on the plane, with others requiring a vet’s certificate to fly.
To start, all dogs and cats must be at least eight weeks old and weigh under eight kilograms, including the approved soft-sided carrier, which must fit under the seat in front of you. Pets must also be up to date with vaccinations, have a valid veterinary certificate and must not have given birth within the last seven days. Additionally, pets with existing health conditions – including those that are pregnant, recovering from surgery or injury, between eight and 12 weeks old, or older than 12 – need a vet certificate confirming they’re fit to fly.
Breeds needing vet approval for Virgin Australia flights
A vet certificate is required for brachycephalic breeds (AKA pets with short, flat faces) to confirm they’re fit to fly safely. That’s because their squished snouts can make breathing and regulating body temperature more difficult in the air. As part of the fit-to-fly assessment, the vet will examine their nostrils, body condition, crate temperament, respiratory patterns and any pre-existing health conditions. Breeds requiring this include:
Dog breeds
- Affenpinscher
- American bully
- American bulldog
- Australian bulldog
- Boston terrier
- Boxer
- Brussels griffon / Griffon bruxellois
- British / English bulldog
- Chow chow
- Dogue de bordeaux
- English toy spaniel / King Charles spaniel
- French mastiff
- French bulldog
- Japanese chin / Japanese spaniel
- Lhasa apso
- Neapolitan mastiff
- Pekingese
- Pug (Chinese pug, Dutch pug, Japanese pug)
- Shih tzu
- Tibetan spaniel
- Valley bulldog
Cat breeds
- Exotic shorthair cat
- Himalayan cat
- Persian cat
Breeds banned from Virgin Australia flights
Under the Australian Customs Regulations 1956 and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, certain breeds are prohibited from travelling and are therefore banned on Virgin Australia flights. These include:
Dog Breeds
- Czechoslovakian wolfdog
- Dogo argentino
- Fila brasileiro
- Japanese tosa
- Kunming wolfdog
- Lupo Italiano (Italian wolfdog)
- Perro de presa canario
- Pit bulls (including all sub-breeds)
- Saarloos wolfdog
Cat Breeds
- Savannah cat (domestic cat crossed with serval cat)
- Safari cat (domestic cat crossed with Geoffroy cat)
- Chausie (domestic cat crossed with jungle cat)
- Bengal cat (domestic cat crossed with Asian leopard cat)
You can find out more details about Virgin Australia’s Pets in Cabin service here.