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Virgin Australia has expanded its Pets in Cabin network with the first flight taking off from Adelaide today to join the airline’s original trial routes between Melbourne, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast launched last October.
The Adelaide launch follows what Virgin says has been strong customer demand since first launching the Pets in Cabin services last year with almost 1,500 pets having travelled onboard in that time.
"Importantly, 90 per cent of travellers without pets who have travelled on a Pets in Cabin service reported they were unaware a pet was on board, demonstrating how seamlessly the program has been integrated into the travel experience,” says Libby Minogue, Virgin Australia’s chief marketing and customer operations officer.
"The introduction of the service in Adelaide is another positive step forward as we continue to provide more Australians with the opportunity to travel alongside their pets.
"By extending Pets in Cabin services to Adelaide, we're not only providing greater choice and convenience for pet owners, we're also supporting tourism and local businesses by making South Australia more accessible to a growing segment of travellers who want to holiday with their pets.”
Two Chihuahuas, Pickle and Jet, were the first pets to fly on the inaugural service, VA 218, from Adelaide to Melbourne, alongside owners, Prue Burston and Zahra McDonald, marking the beginning of Pets in Cabin services for Virgin’s South Australian customers.
Veterinarian Dr Katrina Warren says the service provides a viable alternative for pet owners who previously had to place animals in special holds within the aircraft or arrange alternative care during travel.
“For many Australians, pets are cherished members of the family, so having more opportunities to travel with dogs and cats is a welcome step,” says Warren.
“It's wonderful to see Virgin Australia recognising the important role pets play in our lives and making it much easier to include them in travel plans.”
Virgin Australia’s Pets in Cabin routes are being undertaken on a trial basis and will be available to book for travel until 30 September this year.
The new services between Adelaide and Melbourne are available to book for travel until 31 January 2027, although the airline says further announcements on all these routes will be made “in due course”.
Alicia Bickmore, Adelaide Airport’s executive general manager, corporate, has welcomed the partnership with Virgin Australia to bring the Pets in Cabin network to Adelaide.
"Pets are cherished members of the family, and this initiative ensures our passengers no longer have to leave their four-legged friends behind,” she says.
“We are supportive of providing customers with greater choice to bring their pets on holidays and look forward to working with Virgin Australia to deliver an enhanced, stress-free travel experience for our customers.”
The Pets in Cabin trial remains the only such service offered by a major Australian carrier.
Qantas Airways (ASX: QAN) has ruled out introducing a ‘pets in cabin’ service for its Australian routes.
The company says animals and pets travelling on a Qantas flight travel in a special area in the hold of a passenger aircraft, where the temperature and noise are similar to those experienced in the cabin.
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