Evidence
Welcome to the Pet Travel Reform UK Evidence page.
This page brings together government correspondence, Freedom of Information responses, parliamentary research, international examples and other evidence supporting our campaign.
Our aim is to demonstrate that regulated in-cabin travel for compliant pet dogs and cats from approved low-risk countries can be introduced while maintaining the UK’s world-leading biosecurity standards.
As our campaign progresses, this page will be updated with new research, official correspondence, policy developments and international case studies.
Freedom of Information Request
DEFRA Freedom of Information Response
Date: 28 July 2026
Summary
DEFRA confirmed that pets travelling on scheduled commercial flights are generally transported as manifest cargo because of existing carrier approvals and operational arrangements. The department invited a narrower request focused on the legal and policy basis for those arrangements.
Why this matters
This indicates that the current system is based on operational arrangements rather than an explicit prohibition on compliant pets travelling in the cabin.
Official Freedom of Information response from the Department For Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) relating to pet travel policy and campaign correspondence.
Freedom of Information Response
John Grady MP Letter
Following discussions with Pet Travel Reform, John Grady MP asked the House of Commons Library to research the legal and practical barriers to allowing compliant pet dogs and cats to travel in aircraft cabins. The findings indicate the main barriers are operational rather than legal.
Parliamentary Correspondence
Official correspondence and independent parliamentary research demonstrating the campaign’s evidence-based case for reform of UK pet travel policy.
House of Commons Library Research
Independent Research prepared by the House of Commons Library examining current UK pet travel policy, international approaches to in-cabin pet travel and options for reform while maintaining UK biosecurity.
Defra Confirms No Specific Legislative Requirement
On 20 August 2026, following Pet Travel Reform UK’s enquiries into the legal and operational basis for the current system, Defra confirmed:
“There is no specific legislative requirement that stipulates pets must travel as manifest cargo on scheduled flights.”
Defra explained that manifest cargo is the arrangement used in practice to transfer pets directly to checking facilities and provide the required documentary arrival record for customs and other border officials.
This does not change the current rules, but it confirms that manifest cargo itself is not specifically mandated by legislation.
A Controlled Arrival Model
Following Defra’s clarification, Pet Travel Reform UK developed a detailed policy proposal for a regulated in-cabin arrival pathway into Great Britain.
The model keeps existing health, identification, documentary, biosecurity and border safeguards in place.
Eligible pets would remain securely contained, follow a controlled arrival process, undergo the required checks and only be released into Great Britain once clearance had been completed.
Pet Travel Reform UK is asking Government to examine the operational barriers and consider a limited pilot with a willing airport and airline.
International Evidence
Many Countries across Europe and North America already permit compliant pet dogs and cats to travel safely in aircraft cabins. Airlines including Air France, KLM and Lufthansa have integrated regulated in-cabin pet travel into their operations while maintaining high standards of safety, hygiene and biosecurity. The Lufthansa Group has also introduced an additional service allowing larger dogs to travel in the passenger cabin on selected routes, demonstrating that airlines continue to develop safe, regulated options for pet owners. These international examples show that practical, evidence-based solutions already exist and could help inform future policy in the United Kingdom.
Examples from International Airlines
Major international airlines already operate regulated in-cabin pet travel under established safety, animal welfare and biosecurity requirements. The published policies below provide examples of how these systems operate in practice.
🇨🇦 Air Canada
Air Canada allows cats and small dogs to travel in the cabin on most flights, provided they remain in a carrier under the seat.
🇫🇷 Air France
Air France permits pets in the cabin on most flights. The pet and container weight must not exceed 8kg.
🇨🇭 Swiss International Air Lines
SWISS allows dogs and cats weighing up to 8kg in the cabin. Pets must be kept in a soft-sided container.
🇩🇪 Lufthansa
Lufthansa allows dogs and cats weighing up to 8kg in the cabin. Special regulations apply for larger animals.
🇳🇱 KLM
KLM welcomes small cats and dogs in Economy Class on most flights. Advance reservation is required for cabin travel.
🇪🇸 Iberia
Iberia permits dogs and cats in the cabin on most flights. The weight of the pet and carrier must not exceed 8kg.