New Airline Just For Pets
A new airline serving pets only will launch this summer. Despite the economy and troubled airline industry, perhaps when it comes to their pets, people will spend the extra money to fly Fido. Pet Airways will launch service in July, but will not serve Raleigh or North Carolina….yet. Here are the details and a new word for you: pawsenger.
Pet Airways will launch the first pet-only airline specifically designed for the transportation of pets. The first pet flights are scheduled for July 14, 2009. On Pet Airways, all pets travel in the main cabin, not in the cargo hold.
According to the American Animal Hospital Association, approximately 76 million cats and dogs travel with their owners each year. Despite the high number, relatively few travel by air. Many airlines allow small pets to travel with their owners stowed under the seat, but most airlines will only accept one or two pets per flight. Pets that are too big to fit under the seat are put in the cargo hold.
Several airlines recently announced they will no longer accept pets on board their aircraft. In addition, airlines that do accept pets as cargo will not accept them when outside temperatures are below 45 degrees or above 85 degrees. A study by the San Francisco SPCA, found that of the two million animals transported in the cargo holds of commercial airliners per year, approximately 5,000 are injured in transit.
Serving five cities to start – New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, Denver and Los Angeles – Pet Airways plans to expand nationwide with easily accessible pet check-in lounges to serve its “pawsengers.” Customers will be able to book pet travel and track their pet’s travel progress on the web.
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it’s about time! I just hope it won’t cost an arm and a leg!