Air Canada, Canada’s largest airline, just made an announcement that will have a significant impact on air travelers with large pets this summer.
“Until September 12, animals will no longer be able to travel in the hold of the aircraft,” Air Canada wrote on Twitter.
“You’re welcome to bring your cat or small dog in the cabin with you provided it is small enough to stand, turn around, and lie down in its carrier under the seat in front of you,” Air Canada explains on its website. “Just make sure to let us know in advance, as space is sometimes limited.”
The airline further explains that the policy change was needed “Due to longer than usual airport delays, and for the safety and comfort of your pet.”
It must be pointed out, however, that current bookings for pets to travel in a plane’s baggage compartment will be honored.
Chaos In Airports Around The World
When travel was halted during the COVID-19 pandemic, airlines and airports laid off scores of employees, and thousands of pilots took early retirement packages. Now that travel restrictions have been lifted and people are traveling again, airlines and airports find themselves short-staffed, particularly when it comes to pilots. Making matters worse, a large number of commercial airline pilots continue to retire.
The problem is that airlines continue to book flights, only to cancel them at the last moment due to staffing shortages.
For instance, data from flight analytics firm masFlight shows that U.S. airlines canceled roughly 1,400 flights between last Friday and Monday, according to The Hill. Furthermore, in the last month, U.S. airlines canceled more than 18,000 flights, including nearly 1,000 flights in the 3 days after the holiday weekend.
That said, data from flight tracking service FlightAware shows that Air Canada currently leads the world in flight delays, according to the CBC. For example, FlightAware’s data shows that 65 percent of Air Canada’s flights arrived late last Tuesday.
Toronto’s Pearson Airport took the top spot for airports with the most flight delays last Tuesday, CBC reports. That distinction stems from it being the only airport where more than half of all flights were delayed.
Even when flights aren’t canceled, travelers must still contend with long lines and problems retrieving luggage. Indeed, passengers at airports from Toronto to Frankfurt have been posting photos on social media of piled-up luggage near baggage belts, according to Reuters.
Pets carried in the cargo hold of airplanes require extra attention, which, in turn, takes time and manpower. It is expected that Air Canada’s temporary ban on pets traveling in a plane’s cargo hold will help streamline the baggage loading and unloading process.
Traveling By Air Canada With Pets
It should be noted that small animals will still be allowed in the cabins of most Air Canada flights — as long as they can lie down in a carrier under the seat in front of the passenger. That option, however, does come at a cost.
Bringing a pet in the cabin of an Air Canada flight will cost $50 for flights within Canada and the U.S. (excluding Hawaii). It will cost an additional $100 for international flights.
“This [policy] does not affect trained service animals,” Air Canada told CBC.
A spokesperson also added that the airline often places an embargo on pets traveling in the cargo hold on select routes during certain times of the year, “particularly for destinations where there is extreme heat,” according to CBC.
You can learn more about traveling with your pet on Air Canada here.
Read more about flight cancellations, delays, and general chaos at airports in our travel news coverage: