Virgin Australia has announced plans to allow pets onboard airplanes within the next year and, already, there’s been a mixed reaction to the plan. 

If the regulations are approved, this will make Virgin the first Australian airline to allow animals onboard. 

“More people would fly, it would bring in more revenue and there would be more people actually wanting to take their pets instead of leaving them at shelters,” says veterinary nurse Ambra Decorsey.

According to the RSPCA, in 2023 about 69 per cent of Australian households had pets. That is one of the highest pet ownership rates in the world. 

Ms Decorsey has some concerns about the health and safety of the dogs.

“If something does happen on the plane, is there anybody medically qualified to sort the issue out? Chances are, probably not.”

Virgin specified that animals will not be allowed to roam freely or sit on laps. They must be in pet carriers that fit under the owner’s seat and be approved by Virgin.

 This service would also be limited to small cats and dogs on certain domestic routes.

According to pet insurance website Petcare, eight out of the 10 most popular dog breeds in Australia are classified as medium or large breeds. 

Assistant manager at Petbarn and dog trainer Tanya Balakina says larger dogs shouldn’t miss out. 

“Whether it’s a big dog or a small dog, whether it’s easy to take them on the plane or not, I think the rules should be applied to species, not just the size of the animal,” she says.

“They all go through the same developments, same issues, same training.

“I would definitely feel disheartened if a smaller dog was allowed on the plane but I couldn’t take my bigger dog with me just because of the size.”