UK Government update for easyJet, Jet2, Ryanair, TUI over cabin 'ban'

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has issued a statement for people travelling on British Airways, easyJet, Jet2, Ryanair, TUI aircraft over calls to changes for the cabin rules. A petition on the Parliament website has soared to more than 14,000 signatures and officials have given an official response.

Campaigners want people to be given the right to take ‘small pets’ on aircraft entering the UK. The petition, which can be seen here, says: “Allow airlines, under DEFRA guidance, to offer an in-cabin travel option for small, fully documented pets on flights entering the UK, in line with international standards for other countries.

“Many countries, including within the EU, USA, Canada, and Ireland, generally allow small, vaccinated, and microchipped pets to travel safely in the cabin, though requirements vary between different countries and airlines. The UK requires cargo travel even for very small animals, which can be stressful for the pets and costly for their owners. I believe allowing an in-cabin option would improve welfare and align the UK more closely with widely used global practices while maintaining biosecurity.”

Currently the UK government does not allow pets (cats, dogs, ferrets) to arrive in the cabin of a plane on commercial flights. Pets must travel as manifest cargo in the hold, or via specific approved routes, with exceptions only for recognized service/assistance dogs.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: “All pets entering GB must be checked for compliance with our biosecurity requirements. Complex operational arrangements at airports mean that most pets must travel in the hold to facilitate this.

"The Government takes the importation of pets seriously and is committed to preserving high standards of biosecurity and animal welfare. We understand that many pet owners would like to travel with their pets in the aircraft cabin to Great Britain (GB). However, this needs to be balanced against our biosecurity requirements and the operational complexities of conducting various border controls at airports.”

DEFRA officials explained that concerns over importing diseases were behind the ban: “All pets (cats, dogs and ferrets) travelling into GB must be checked for compliance with the necessary health and documentary requirements prior to entry. This includes checking that the relevant rabies vaccination and tapeworm treatment requirements have been met. Rabies is a lethal disease in unvaccinated people and animals. GB is rabies free due to our high standards of biosecurity, and it is very much in the interests of humans and animals here that we protect our disease-free status and therefore the population.

“Current operational arrangements at GB airports mean that most pets must travel in the hold to ensure that these checks are carried out. To facilitate these checks, all pets entering airports in GB must be transported safely and securely to the pet checking facility which is separate to the passenger terminals. Operations at airports are sensitive and complex, and other vital border controls must be considered as part of their operational processes.

“The Government is content that the existing pet travel arrangement ensures the necessary import checks have been conducted to safeguard our domestic biosecurity and maintain animal welfare standards whilst working within the complex operational arrangements of an airport.”

To sign up to the petition and read the full government response click here.