Pet Travel Takes Off as Aeroflot Carries 167,000 Animals 

The sky is becoming noticeably more pet-friendly. What was once a niche add-on has turned into a fast-growing segment of airline customer service, driven by changing attitudes toward companion animals and how people travel with them.

In 2025, the Aeroflot Group, including Rossiya Airlines, transported 167,609 pets on its flights. The figure highlights a broader global shift toward the “humanisation” of travel, where animals are increasingly treated as family members rather than cargo.

Most pet owners, it turns out, want their animals close. According to Aeroflot’s data, more than 75% of passengers chose to fly with their pets in the aircraft cabin. In total, over 127,000 animals travelled in-cabin during the year, including 4,400 pets transported using a service that allows an animal to occupy a neighbouring seat.

The more traditional option — transport in the baggage hold — was selected by just over 40,000 owners. Among those passengers were not only cats and dogs but a striking range of exotic animals, including Amur tigers, a brown bear, bush dogs, penguins, flamingos, emus, rays, sharks, and even primates such as tamarins and galagos.

To streamline procedures for travelling with animals, a dedicated check-in counter for passengers with pets opened at Sheremetyevo International Airport in September 2025 — the first of its kind in Russia. By December, demand had risen to 2,600 check-ins per month, signalling the need to scale up similar services.

Competition for “paws” in the cabin

Aeroflot is not alone in adapting to the new expectations of pet owners. S7 Airlines was among the first Russian carriers to allow pets on adjacent seats and has gradually increased the maximum in-cabin weight allowance to 10 kg including the carrier. Utair and Ural Airlines have also adjusted their fare structures, offering more flexible conditions for transporting small animals in soft carriers.

Global data reinforces the trend: demand for in-cabin pet travel is growing by around 10% per year. Passengers are increasingly unwilling to accept the idea of their animals being treated as checked baggage, pushing airlines to rethink cabin layouts, service design, and safety regulations.

Airports are responding too. Istanbul Airport, for example, has introduced a dedicated waiting lounge for pets, reflecting the broader shift toward pet-friendly infrastructure across the travel ecosystem.

Premium travel, four paws at a time

At the ultra-premium end of the market, 2025 saw the rise of BARK Air, the world’s first airline designed entirely around dogs. On BARK Air flights, the dog is the primary passenger, while the human is officially listed as its companion.

Routes connecting New York, Los Angeles, and London are reportedly booked months in advance, despite ticket prices that far exceed standard commercial fares.

Taken together, Aeroflot’s experience and the emergence of niche players like BARK Air point to a clear conclusion: the future of aviation is increasingly inclusive. Comfort for pets is becoming as decisive for carrier choice as punctuality or ticket price. For airlines, pet-friendly services are no longer just a perk — they are shaping one of the most reliable drivers of loyalty among premium customers.