by InTrieste
Two dogs, Honey and Moka, made aviation history this week by becoming the first medium-to-large dogs in Italy to fly in an airplane cabin under new rules aimed at making air travel more pet-friendly.
On a demonstration flight operated by ITA Airways from Milan to Rome, the animals — Honey, an 11-year-old mixed-breed, and Moka, a 12-year-old Labrador — were allowed to travel beside their owners without the use of crates. Until now, dogs over 10 kilograms (about 22 pounds) were required to fly in the cargo hold.
The change follows new guidelines approved by Italy’s Civil Aviation Authority, which now permit dogs weighing up to 25 kilograms (about 55 pounds) to remain in the cabin, provided they are properly secured during the flight.
Transport Minister Matteo Salvini, who joined the inaugural trip, praised the move as a “game changer for millions of passengers,” adding that the update aimed to improve both passenger comfort and animal welfare.
During the one-hour flight, Moka rested on a mat in business class while Honey sat in economy. Both dogs remained calm, according to ITA Airways officials, offering what the airline described as a proof of concept for the new regulations.
The policy has drawn a mixed response. Many pet owners have welcomed the move, seeing it as a more humane alternative to cargo transport. But consumer groups have raised concerns about possible disruptions in the cabin, such as barking, allergies, or hygiene issues, arguing that absorbent mats may not resolve all potential problems.
The development comes amid a broader trend in Italy toward integrating pets into travel services. Rome’s Fiumicino Airport, for instance, recently opened a luxury dog hotel offering grooming, aromatherapy, and private outdoor spaces for travelers’ pets.
Italy is the first European country to adopt such regulations, and its experiment will be closely watched by other nations considering how to balance the needs of passengers, airlines, and animals.
