Big Dogs Finally Fly in the Cabin – Italy Changes the Game!

Starting in 2025, dogs up to 30 kg travel in their own seat. All the details, ENAC explained, and a forecast for the rest of Europe.

📅 April 6, 2026 | ✍️ Author: Ideal Dale Kennel Portal

Until now, owners of large dogs had only two options: cargo hold (often stressful and risky) or leaving the dog at home. As of May 2025, Italy introduces a revolutionary change – large dogs can fly in the passenger cabin, in their own seat, next to their owner. 🌍🐾

📌 Who exactly is ENAC?

ENAC (Ente Nazionale per l’Aviazione Civile) is Italy’s civil aviation authority – similar to the US FAA or the UK CAA. This body regulates flight safety, pilot licensing, aircraft certification, and of course, animal transport on airplanes.¹

In mid‑2025, ENAC adopted new guidelines allowing dogs up to 30 kg to travel in the cabin. The previous limit was only 8–10 kg – which practically excluded all but the smallest breeds.

Interestingly, ENAC based this decision on Article 9 of the Italian Constitution, which explicitly protects animals – the first time an aviation regulation has directly relied on constitutional animal protection.

🐕 What exactly changes? – key new rules

• 🐾 Own seat for the dog – no longer “carry‑on” under the seat. You buy and reserve a separate seat for the crate, and the crate is strapped in. This is the key difference from the old system!
• 🐾 Maximum 6 dogs per flight – including small ones.²
• 🐾 Seating rules: the crate can only be placed in the first or last row of the aircraft, away from emergency exits.
• 🐾 Safety requirements: the crate must be sturdy, ventilated, waterproof, and secured with a seatbelt.
• 🐾 Applies only to domestic flights within Italy – international flights still follow individual airline policies.

✈️ Which airlines are introducing “Large Pet Friendly”?

ITA Airways, Italy’s national carrier, is the first airline to introduce the “Large Pet Friendly” service.³ A test flight took place on September 23, 2025 on the Milan–Rome route, with two large dogs in the cabin – a Labrador named Mokka and a mixed breed named Hani. The flight was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Matteo Salvini, ENAC President Pierluigi Di Palma, and ITA Airways Chairman Sandro Pappalardo.⁴

Full commercial availability is expected during the IATA summer season 2026 (spring/summer 2026). Once the system is live, passengers will be able to buy a ticket for the dog as an extra seat.

❤️ Why this matters for dogs and owners

Until now, large dogs traveled in the cargo hold – a dark, noisy, non‑climate‑controlled part of the plane. Animal protection organizations (such as OIPA) have for years pointed to stress, injuries, and even deaths of dogs in the hold.⁶ The new rules recognize dogs as living beings, not as “packages”. This is the first time a country has so explicitly protected animals in aviation.

🌍 Will this spread to other countries?

ENAC presented its initiative at the 42nd ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) General Assembly in September 2025 and received attention and praise from the international community.⁷ This is a significant signal that other countries might follow Italy’s example.

However, we have to be realistic: most European airlines (Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, Ryanair) still have strict limits of 5–8 kg for cabin travel. Exceptions are rare. But when one EU member state shows that the system works, pressure for EU‑wide harmonization will grow. There is no doubt this decision will spark debates in other countries as well.

📋 What owners should know before they fly

• Check with the airline – ENAC gives permission, but the airline can refuse.
• Book well in advance – limited spaces (max 6 dogs per flight).
• Prepare the paperwork – the dog must be over 6 months old, microchipped, vaccinated, and treated against parasites.⁸
• The crate must be certified – sturdy, waterproof, well‑ventilated, with a seatbelt attachment.
• Bring water and treats – the flight can last several hours.
• Be ready for extra costs – prices haven’t been announced yet, but you’ll likely need to buy an extra seat.

Italy has taken the first step toward more humane treatment of large dogs in aviation. This could be the beginning of the end for the stress and risk of traveling in the cargo hold. We hope other countries, including Serbia, will soon consider similar regulations. 🐕✈️

📚 Sources and references

1. ENAC official statement – https://comunicati.enac.gov.it/ ↩
2. Fanpage.it – Cosa cambia davvero – https://www.fanpage.it/ ↩
3. ITA Airways – Large Pet Friendly announcement – Il Giornale di Vicenza ↩
4. Italian Ministry of Transport – https://www.mit.gov.it/ ↩
5. Ryanair refuses – Fanpage interview ↩
6. OIPA – Animal protection organization – https://www.oipa.org/ ↩
7. Rustourismnews – ENAC at ICAO assembly – https://www.rustourismnews.com/ ↩
8. ITA Airways – Pet travel rules (documentation) – https://www.ita-airways.com/ ↩