Which Airlines Allow Large Dogs in the Cabin?

When it comes to airlines that allow pets to fly in the cabin, most only allow small dogs and cats to fly in the cabin. Size restrictions are in place – either a weight restriction, a maximum carrier size or both. Unfortunately, this rules out all but the smallest (and shortest) dogs from flying in the cabin.

However, there are some exceptions to these rules. Read on to find out about a few airlines and operators that allow large dogs to fly in the cabin…

JSX

Best for: An affordable option for medium-to-large dogs to fly domestically in the USA, plus to and from Mexico

If you’re wanting to fly a medium-to-large dog in the cabin the USA, your best option is JSX, as long as they fly a similar route to the route you’re looking at. Describing themselves as a “hop-on jet service”, they operate a limited but growing number of domestic routes, plus international flights to Baja California Sur in Mexico.

If your dog is too large to fit in a carrier underneath the seat in front of you (with a maximum carrier size of 17 x 13 x 11 inches), you can buy the adjacent seat by calling the call centre. Medium-to-large dogs under 80 lbs (36kg) can fly this way.

During the flight, your dog will need to be leashed, lay on the floor directly in front of their window seat (while you sit in the aisle seat) and be well-behaved. Dogs cannot sit on the actual seat! Up to five pets are permitted per flight.

ITA Airways

Best for: Flying medium sized dogs on domestic flights within Italy, from summer 2026

Following a loosening of regulations by the Italian authorities in May 2025 and a successful trial flight, in February 2025 the Italian airline ITA Airways announced that they would soon allow pets up to 30kg to fly in the cabin on “large pet-friendly” scheduled domestic flights.

Full details on the policy, which is still being finalised, are yet to be announced, but the plan is for flights to soon go on sale for the summer 2026 season. It’s possible this may only apply on some flights. Additionally, the previous regulatory change stated that larger pets still needed to fly in carriers “adequately secured by means of seat belts or other anchoring systems”, not on the floor like on JSX.

Keep an eye on the ITA Airways website for further details, including pricing. Note that the regulatory change only allows this on domestic flights within Italy, not international flights to and from Italy.

Tradewind Aviation

Best for: Dogs of any size to fly to selected destinations in Northeastern USA, Bahamas and Caribbean

Tradewind Aviation is a commuter and on-demand airline operator that offers both scheduled and private flights. It currently operates scheduled flights across three regions: northeastern USA flights to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, Bahamas flights from Florida and Caribbean flights mainly from Puerto Rico.

Tradewind flights are pet-friendly subject to required limitations and exclusions. (In particular, check the restrictions in place for many Caribbean islands.) All pets must be booked in advance, with their weight provided.

Up to three pets are permitted per flight, but only one party may travel with up to two large pets, defined as any pet 21 lbs (9.5kg) or over. These larger pets must travel in the last row. If your pet or party of pets is over 100 lbs (45kg) you are required to buy a seat, otherwise pets fly for free.

Pets need to be leashed and under your control. The airline reserves the right to request pets to be in a carrier or muzzled, for example if they are not friendly towards other pets or humans.

RetrieveAir

Best for: Dogs of any size to fly domestically in the USA

Since May 2025, a new option has existed in the United States for flying with dogs in the cabin with no weight or height limits at all. RetrievAir is not an actual airline (it doesn’t own or operate any aircraft) but a charter flight platform catering to dog and cat owners.

On RetrieveAir flights, pets can either fly on your lap, in your legroom space or you can reserve a seat for them, depending on their size. Prices differ depending on the chosen option. Just note that only a single pet can fly per adult.

During 2025, RetrieveAir flights operated between Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver and Fort Lauderdale. New destinations in 2026 include Scottsdale, Washington DC, Seattle, San Francisco, Atlanta and Tampa Bay. If flying across the country, such as from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale, expect multiple connections.

As an example of price, I looked at the options for flying from New York City to Fort Lauderdale in February 2026, which includes a stop in Washington DC. A Basic ticket including a small pet (on your lap) was $1004. The fare increases to $1928 when traveling with a medium-sized dog who has their own seat.

Note that the flights are less frequent than regular commercial flights, often only fortnightly. Also, if insufficient seats are sold, flights may be cancelled – always a possibility with a new service settling in.

Bark Air

Best for: Dogs of an size to fly on international routes to and from the USA, plus between the East and West Coasts

There are also a number of chartered flight operators that cater for people wanting to fly with large dogs in the cabin on international routes. One of the airlines that focuses on routes to and from the USA is Bark Air.

Bark Air offers the option of both Private and Shared Charters. On Shared Charters 7-9 humans and 7-9 dogs are accommodated on each flight. Dogs aren’t assigned seats but generally settle by their human’s side on the cabin floor. There are pads for in-air toilet emergencies.

Initially the majority of Bark Air flights were between cities such as New York City and popular European destinations such as London. These days they also operate flights to and from Athens, Berlin, Dublin, Lisbon, Madrid, Paris and Stockholm in Europe, as well as Hawaii and Japan. Flights across the US are also available.

As an example price, I looked up the popular route from New York city to London in February 2026. The charge for flights in March 2026 is $9150 per ticket, which is for one human and one dog. If you have two dogs that weigh less than 50 lbs (22.7kg) combined, they can also fly with you on a single ticket.

K9 Jets

Best for: Dogs and cats of any size to fly Trans-Atlantic to a wide range of destinations

K9 Jets is another public charter operator operating flights for both dogs and cats that launched in March 2023, based in the UK.

The airline initially focused on flights between the East Coast of the USA and European cities such as London, Paris and Lisbon, with its main East Coast hub in New Jersey. Newer destinations include the UAE, Canada, and a broader range of European cities including Dublin, Frankfurt, Geneva and Milan. There are plans to expand flights to Australia.

On K9 Jets flights dogs can either travel on your lap or by your side, while cats need to fly in a carrier. Each ticket entitles you to either single pet or two pets if their combined weight is 50 lbs (22.7kg) or less.

K9 Jets flights are confirmed as operating if they are at least 75% full. According to their website in February 2026, over 95% of their flights operate as scheduled. The cost of a flight from New Jersey to London in March 2026 (with all four flights sold out) was $8925 one-way.

Skye Pet Travel

Best for: Dogs and cats of any size to fly to and from Australia and New Zealand, plus Dubai and Singapore

If you’re wanting to fly to Australia or New Zealand with your large or small pet in the cabin (the only way for pets of any size to fly in the cabin, as all pets must fly as manifest cargo on regular flights), your best option is Skye Pet Travel.

This Australian chartered flight operator initially launched flights between London, Dubai and Melbourne in 2023. Since then they have their expanded their destinations to include Singapore and shorter flights between Sydney and Auckland. In late 2026 they will fly for the first time between Los Angeles, Auckland and Melbourne. Note they only offer flights a couple of times per year.

Skye Pets allows both dogs and cats on its flights. During takeoff, landing and any expected turbulence all pets need to fly in a crate, that is supplied by Skye Pets and located across the aisle from your allocated seat. Once the seat belt sign is off, dogs can join you at your seat, although cats need to stay in their crate. A toilet area is provided.

The fees charged by Skye Pets vary depending on the distance. Flights from Dubai to London start from $9990, while the long-haul flights from London to Melbourne start from $23990. On selected flights there is the option to upgrade to a lie-flat business seat. Sky Pets can also help with import requirements and ground transportation.

Service Animals in the Cabin

If you’ve seen a larger dog flying in the cabin of other airlines, it’s most likely been a service animal. Most airlines allow service animals (or at least service dogs) to fly in the cabin on most routes with no size restrictions.

Note that the regulations for flying with service animals differ between different airlines, in particular the recognition of service animals. Some airlines only allow certain types of service animals (such as service dogs for the blind) or those recognised by certain organisations. Check the rules and paperwork requirements well in advance.

Emotional Support Animals in the Cabin

For many years, emotional support animals were also allowed to fly in the cabin on American airlines in a similar manner to service animals, with no size limits and no fee.

However, this is no longer the case, probably due to the many media reports of everything from badly behaved dogs to emotional support peacocks. It is now up to the individual airline whether they allow emotional support animals to fly in the cabin and virtually no US airline permits emotional support animals in the cabin (although animals that are small enough can still fly as pets in a carrier bag).

Outside of the USA, the acceptance of emotional support animals was generally quite limited, often only on flights to and from the US. When I last checked, a few Canadian, Mexican and South American airlines still allowed emotional support animals, though usually only dogs and sometimes with a weight limit of 10kg.

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