That is the question these days, when it comes to pets in cabin. The modification of the Shakespeare quote came about following the pet discussion recently triggered by the United States Center for Disease Control (CDC). In their initial decree, issued just a few weeks ago, the agency demanded a stop to transporting pets next to their owners in the passenger cabins of aircraft. Instead, the authority called for all pets to fly in the cargo hold, without exception. However, the strict new rule was stopped on 30JUL24. We shed light on this bizarre and highly emotional topic.
The protest by IATA, supported by numerous airlines, has had an effect. The CDC has stepped back from its strict course forbidding pets to sit next to their owners in passenger cabins of jetliners. A successful pushback, much to the delight of Marie Louise Baillargeon. The Frenchwoman from Normandy visits relatives in the USA several times a year. She is the owner of a Bernedoodle, which she used to book as pet in cabin whenever she traveled. “I fear flying and the dog is my emotional companion who transmits his calmness to me during the journey,” explains Ms. Baillargeon.
Separation of passengers and pets only in exceptional cases
Just like her, every day, hundreds of travelers take a pet into the passenger cabin of an airplane, sometimes for similar reasons, but mostly out of sheer love for their animals. More than 90% are dogs, but these emotional support companions can sometimes be hamsters, guinea pigs, cats or even birds. For example, a lady in the USA once wanted to check in for a domestic flight with a parrot sitting on her shoulder, but was refused boarding by airline staff. Instead of flying, she and her bird had to use the train to make their trip.
These are now the new requirements prescribed by the CDC in close coordination with IATA and Washington’s Transportation Security Administration (TSA):
Before accepting a dog for transport, Aircraft Operators must confirm that the owner is in possession of all the required key documentation for the dog, based on the country of origin and including the date of its last rabies vaccination. They are required to issue an air waybill for all dogs entering the U.S. via air, including dogs transported as cargo, as hand-carried or as checked-baggage prior to their arrival.
Carriers are responsible for returning pets considered inadmissible, to the country of departure within 72 hours of arrival. If the dog is from a high-risk country, the aircraft operator/air carrier must ensure that the animal will only enter the U.S. through a designated U.S. airport with both a CDC quarantine station and a CDC-registered Air Cargo Facility (ACF). Of these, there are only six in the USA.
Finally, CDC points out that airlines which lack the technical ability to generate a bill of lading to transport dogs as checked baggage or as hand-carried baggage, may request a waiver from the agency.
High risk …
CDC justifies the amended rules to protect America’s pets by preventing the reintroduction of dog rabies into the United States, allowing only vaccinated dogs to enter the country. A CDC bulletin names the high-risk countries where rabies has not been eradicated. These range from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe and include countries such as Brazil, South Africa, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, China (excluding Hong Kong, Macau), India, Qatar, Egypt or Israel, among others.
…and moderate risk countries
In a second document, the CDC identifies countries with a lower risk of rabies, such as Belgium, Japan, Ireland, Singapore, Australia, England, Scotland, and Australia. Dogs arriving from these states must be vaccinated and be at least 6 months old. They must have an implanted microchip that can be detected with a universal scanner, to identify them upon their entry into the U.S.
Swiss WorldCargo, KLM Cargo urge customers to comply with the new rules
In a note to customers, Swiss World Cargo points out that shippers and pet owners are responsible for ensuring compliance with the CDC criteria and submitting the necessary documentation before their dogs are accepted for air travel by Swiss WorldCargo. “General requirements apply universally, with additional specific rules based on the dog’s travel history and the origin of its current rabies vaccination. Dogs that do not fulfill all requirements will be denied entry and returned to the country of departure at the shipper’s/owner’s expense,” the Swiss statement reads. KLM Cargo has just sent a very similar letter to its customers in order to alert them. In this way, the carriers protect themselves from the risk of having to fly back animals rejected by the U.S. authorities upon arrival, at their own expense.
IATA stepped in
When asked about the new rules, the Head of Cargo of a leading European airline said that IATA had done an extremely good job on behalf of all airlines by managing to relativize the original AWB requirement in negotiations with the CDC. It has also succeeded in ensuring that carriers can submit a waiver application that suspends the AWB requirement for an initial period of 3 months.
The priority for the next three months is to define a regulation that takes into account the interests of all parties involved.
Until then, passengers from low-risk countries will be able to take their pets back into cabin or cargo holds as they always have done, as long as they follow the instructions listed in the CDC’s new Dog Import Form.
