05/25/2026
๐๐๐ฎ๐น๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐น๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ด๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ด๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐น, ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ for many pet owners, it feels like a long overdue step forward.
The Italian Civil Aviation Authority, ENAC, approved new rules allowing medium and large dogs to fly in airplane cabins alongside their owners under certain conditions. The change officially took effect on September 23, 2025, and was marked by a special ITA Airways flight from Milan to Rome. On that flight, a 12-year-old Labrador named Moka traveled in business class, while an 11-year-old mixed-breed dog named Honey flew in economy.
For years, many dog owners avoided flying altogether because they did not want to place their pets in the cargo hold. That fear was especially strong for people with older dogs, anxious dogs, or larger breeds that did not qualify for cabin travel under the usual size limits. Italyโs new approach is now giving those families a different option.
What makes this change so significant is that it moves beyond the older standard that typically limited cabin travel to very small dogs. Italy is now the first country in Europe to open the door for larger dogs to travel this way, making it a major shift in how pet travel is viewed.
Transport Minister Matteo Salvini described it as a victory for common sense and civility. For many owners, that description feels fitting. Dogs are family, and the idea of keeping them close during travel matters deeply to people who see them that way.
There is no blanket weight rule built into the new policy. Instead, dogs must travel in a secured carrier, while each airline will set its own rules for size, placement, fees, and seating arrangements. That means the experience may vary depending on the airline, but the overall change is still a major breakthrough.
For millions of people who once felt forced to choose between staying home or sending their dog below the cabin, this change represents something much bigger than a travel update. It represents a new way of thinking about animals, one that treats their comfort and well-being as part of the journey too.
