Virgin Australia has announced good news for pet owners and their furry friends, as it readies to launch its Pets in Cabin service from 16 October 2025. The pilot scheme will operate on identified flights between Melbourne, the Gold Coast, and the Sunshine Coast.
Only small, vaccinated dogs and cats are welcome, and must remain inside holders, beneath designated seats at all times. A limit of only four animals weighing up to eight kilos each per flight will apply, and cats will not be permitted on flights to/from the Gold Coast Airport during the trial. Costing AUS$149 per animal, per flight, the service will initially run until 30 January 2026, before being rolled out to all eligible Virgin Australia domestic flights.
Existing rules around animals on board will remain unchanged. For instance, approved assistance animals will still be allowed in the cabin at no extra charge, and Virgin will continue to offer pet transportation in cargo on all eligible domestic services through approved pet carrier services.
In preparation for the advent of more in-cabin animals, the carrier said in a press release it had “actively engaged and collaborated with leading international airlines already operating similar services, consulted closely with animal welfare organisations and accessibility groups, and addressed feedback from frequent travellers to develop a service that prioritises animal welfare and guest comfort.” The trial is intended to gather further information before the service becomes more widely available.
Virgin believes the provision will unlock “economic opportunities for the tourism and pet travel industries, and opening up a new world of possibilities for Australians to travel with their small four-legged friends.”
Virgin Australia Group Chief Executive Officer, Dave Emerson, said in a statement that, “Our guests have been telling us for years how much they want to travel alongside their pets and now they finally can.” Pointing out that “It’s a model that’s proven successful in the US and Europe,” he added: “With almost 70 percent of households owning a pet, we expect the service to be embraced by pet lovers all around the country. Beyond convenience for pet owners, the service is also set to boost the pet-friendly travel sector, including hotels and tourism operators.”
A Facebook survey undertaken by the airline in 2021 showed 85% of its followers were in favour of the move – sentiment backed up by more recent research from Tourism and Transport Forum Australia that found over 63% of pet owners are forced “to leave their furry companions with a sitter or loved one due to the lack of inflight pet travel options available in Australia.”
While some passengers may have concerns about allergies, Virgin Australia Group Medical Officer, Dr Kelly Bofkin, said: “Our aircraft are fitted with advanced HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filtration systems, which capture more than 99 per cent of airborne particles, including pet dander.” In addition, “Cabin airflow dynamics are such that air circulates from top to bottom and the cabin air is renewed 20-30 times per hour, which greatly reduces the risk of airborne allergen transfer. Additionally, the creation of ‘buffer zones’ (two rows behind and two rows in front of the allocated pet rows) ensures that the risk to guests of allergen exposure is significantly reduced,” she said.
Flyers wishing to use the service must ring ahead to the Virgin Australia Guest Contact Centre and agree to the Pets in Cabin Terms and Conditions to proceed with the booking.
