A 13-year-old Sharpei named Geppino became one of the first large dogs to fly in the cabin on Ita Airways this Monday [1].
The flight marks the inauguration of a new service by the airline that allows medium-large dogs to travel inside the cabin rather than in the cargo hold. This shift in policy addresses long-standing safety and stress concerns for pet owners traveling with larger animals.
Geppino, who weighs approximately 29 kg [2], traveled from Palermo Falcone-Borsellino Airport to Milan Linate Airport [3]. The dog and his owner departed from gate A15 on flight AZ1864 [3]. The flight departed at 12:20 local time [3].
To accommodate the animal's size, the airline reserved first-row seats 1A, 1B, and 1C [3]. The new service is designed to accommodate dogs weighing up to 30 kg [1].
Traditionally, dogs of this size were required to travel in the hold of the aircraft. The transition to cabin travel for larger breeds represents a change in operational procedures for the carrier as it seeks to expand its pet-friendly offerings [1].
Geppino's journey was used to showcase the logistical requirements of the new service, including the allocation of multiple seats, to ensure both passenger comfort and animal safety [3].
“Geppino became one of the first medium-large dogs to travel in the cabin on Ita Airways.”
The introduction of cabin access for dogs up to 30 kg challenges the industry standard that typically restricts cabin travel to small pets in carriers. By allocating multiple first-row seats to a single animal, Ita Airways is testing a high-accommodation model that may influence how other European carriers handle pet transport and cabin space monetization.
