ITA Airways launches "Large Dog On Board" service

ITA Airways has launched its new "Large Dog On Board" service, allowing dogs weighing up to 30 kilograms to travel in the aircraft cabin without a pet carrier on selected domestic scheduled flights.

The service goes on sale today and will become operational on August 3. Reservations can be made through the ITA Airways Customer Information Assistance Office at least four days before departure, CE Report quotes ANSA.

The launch follows the airline's first demonstration scheduled flight last September from Milan Linate to Rome Fiumicino, during which two large dogs traveled in the cabin without carriers.

With the introduction of this service, ITA Airways said it is marking another milestone for Italian commercial aviation following authorization from ENAC, Italy's National Civil Aviation Authority.

During the initial phase, the service will be available on selected domestic ITA Airways flights, subject to the maximum number of large dogs permitted under ENAC's authorization.

At launch, a maximum of two large dogs will be allowed in the cabin in dedicated spaces—one dog weighing up to 30 kg in Business Class and one dog weighing up to 15 kg in Economy Class.

For the first two months after the service begins, the number of standard-size dogs (weighing up to 10 kg) permitted on board will be limited to two, both in Economy Class and seated at least eight rows away from the large dogs.

After this introductory period, the number of standard-size dogs allowed on board will increase to four.

ITA Airways also plans to expand the service to additional domestic routes and eventually introduce it on international flights, subject to future revisions of regulatory limits and procedures by the relevant authorities.

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