Travelling with large dogs by plane: new rules from 23 September

From 23 September it will be possible to fly with large dogs in the cabin. The indication came from Matteo Salvini, Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, speaking on Tuesday 16 September at the second edition of the Italian Pet Summit, organised by Il Sole 24 Ore. "The issue of pets is indirectly and greatly economic as well as social, because of all the emotional and actual repercussions," the minister emphasised. "I want to point out that we have exceeded the old limit of 8/10 kg for air transport, and the news has comforted in Italy and caused discussion around the world. And now I can announce that on 23 September there will be the first travel for large dogs in the cabin. I would also like to remind you that, with the new Highway Code, we have tightened up the penalties for those who abandon animals along the road, which in addition to being an episode of absolute incivility also puts the safety of animals, people and vehicles at risk'.

In May, Enac's board of directors approved a resolution allowing PETs to be transported in the cabin even beyond the previously envisaged limit of 8-10 kg (depending on the company). The new rules, drawn up by the National Civil Aviation Authority, allow airlines to adopt dedicated procedures: the animals must be placed in approved carriers, which can also be positioned above the seats, without hindering emergency exits or the crew's operations, guaranteeing their well-being. Containers must be secured with belts or specific anchoring systems.

"We will hear from the unions soon, with the head of personnel at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, here at Porta Pia, in Rome, to allow the MIT employees to also be accompanied to their workplaces by their pet friends," said Salvini. The law has already been introduced in Parliament, but - the League leader explained - the matter is still not regulated in the ministries: 'The situation is still quite vague, also because we are talking about several thousand people. Obviously we need everyone's agreement, because when the news came out about the possibility of carrying dogs weighing over 8-10 kilos in the cabin, a lot of people were happy and relieved, but we also have to think of the other side of the world, which is not interested or even worse, maybe even annoyed by it'. So, concluded the minister, 'it is clear that it always depends on common sense to try to understand the text, especially in a closed space like the aeroplane, where there are so many requirements. You always have to use criterion, but if we are there and we start, for me it's a source of pride, as well as a step forward from the point of view of civilisation'.