Akasa Air pets policy: Your complete guide to carry pets in cabin

Akasa Air pets policy: Pet owners have always witnessed a state of bewilderment while planning a vacation.  The owners consider pets as part of their family but many times they have to be left behind. Sensing this, a number of airlines have now come up with the pet policy to permit them to travel with their owners. Akasa air is the latest in the line.

The airlines which took to the skies two months ago will now allow domesticated dogs and cats in cabin as well as cargo from November and will also be starting new routes in the coming weeks. 

Bookings to start from October 15 

From November, domesticated dogs and cats can travel. The bookings in this regard will start from October 15. 

Guide to carry pets in cabin

Each pet will have to be in a cage.

The weight limit, including the cage, will be 7 kilograms in the case of cabin and 32 kilograms in check-in.

There will be another option for heavier pets.

The policy for pets will be “enhanced” later.

The airline will be leveraging the expertise of an NGO with respect to carrying of pets such as how to be prepared and what all things pet owners should know as well as the dos and don’ts.

Pets can be carried as accompanied baggage or shipped as cargo. A request in this regard will have to be made at the time of booking. 

Pets will  be carried at an additional charge and will not be included in the free baggage allowance, even if the passenger has no other baggage. 

Normal Excess Baggage charges would be applicable for carriage of accompanied pets on domestic journeys within India. 

Weight of the pet plus container as also food carried per container will be charged. 

However, these pets may be carried free of charge if the dog is trained to lead the blind passenger with impaired vision and dependent on such a dog or the passenger with impaired hearing and dependent on the dog, provided this is medically supported or established. 

Dogs if properly harnessed may be permitted to be carried in the cabin but cannot occupy a seat. 

Carriage of pets will not be permitted on non stop flights operated by Air India on the India- USA-India route. 

The only exception would be service dogs required to assist the blind or deaf, which may be carried in the cabin.

Pets will be accepted only when accompanied by valid health and rabies vaccination certificates, entry permits and other documents required by countries of entry for transit. 

Pets will be accepted at owner's risk and subject to requirements of the carrier. 

Air India will not be responsible in the event such pets are refused entry into or passage through any country or territory. 

The airline, which is “well capitalised”, plans to start international services in the second half of 2023 once it has a fleet of 20 planes. Currently, the carrier has 6 aircraft and will have a total of 18 planes by the end of March next year. With the passing away of ace investor Jhunjhuwala, whose backing itself had provided a tailwind for the country’s newest airline, the future trajectory of the airline will be closely watched.

Regarding the government’s Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS), the Akasa Air chief has said it is appreciative that the government continues to recognise the importance of the aviation sector. At present, the airline has a total staff of around 800 and about 175 people are joining every month.