23/11/2025
Italy just gave millions of dogs a seat by our side.
If you’ve ever handed your best friend to an airline handler and walked away with a knot in your stomach, this feels huge. Italy is opening airplane cabins to medium and even big dogs. Not just tiny pups in carriers. Real shoulder-to-shoulder travel, together.
The change started with new rules from ENAC, Italy’s aviation authority. They looked at the risks of cargo holds and said we can do better. Airlines can now seat larger dogs in the cabin under clear safety steps like window-side seating, seat-belt harnesses, absorbent pads, and limits on how many animals per flight.
Then came the moment that made it real. In September, Honey and Moka, two good dogs around 25 kg, flew in the cabin on an ITA Airways demonstration flight from Milan to Rome. They sat next to their humans, snoozed, landed, and proved it can work without bothering other passengers.
Is it perfect yet? Not everywhere, not on every route, and not with every airline. Some carriers still cap weight or are rolling this out slowly. But the message is clear. Cargo holds are no longer the only option. More airlines are testing, and more dogs are getting the dignity and calm they deserve.
I don’t know about you, but picturing a nervous dog resting its face on a familiar knee instead of shivering below deck makes my day.
Here’s to more flights where family stays together.
References
ENAC GUIDELINES ON THE CARRIAGE OF PETS IN CABIN ABOVE 8 KG - ENAC, Italian Civil Aviation Authority
ITA runs first flight letting dogs travel with their owners - ANSA
Honey and Moka: Large dogs fly in cabin under Italy's new travel rules - Wanted in Rome
Big Dogs Cleared for Takeoff: Italy Expands Pet Access on Domestic Flights - InTrieste
Disclaimer: Images are generated using AI for illustration purposes only.
