Flying with a pet
on ITA Airways.

1. Standard cabin pets: fit, species and space

New pet bookings cover dogs and cats aged at least three months. Standard cabin limits include animal, carrier and food: 12 kg on domestic flights; 8 kg internationally. Use a soft, waterproof, ventilated carrier within 55 × 40 × 23 cm, placed under the seat. The animal must stand, turn and lie comfortably and remain enclosed through disembarkation.

Up to two same-species animals may share one carrier within the combined limit. This does not authorize a mixed cat-and-dog carrier. The checked pages do not publish a universal standard-pet flight quota or per-passenger carrier allowance. Ask about separate carriers and mixed-species bookings explicitly.

Buy the pet service through Customer Information Assistance at least 48 hours before departure, providing exact carrier dimensions. Submit the cabin declaration in duplicate at check-in. Confirm the aircraft-specific fit before paying.

Sources: ITA Airways: standard cabin pets · ITA Airways: official contact numbers.

2. Hold carriage and breed restrictions

Hold carriers need a rigid plastic or fiberglass shell. Dog crates need metal ventilation and a metal door locking at three points. Remove wheels or secure retractable ones. Maximum dimensions depend on aircraft; no universal crate-sharing or passenger/flight quota is published on the checked hold page.

New hold transport for listed brachycephalic dogs and cats has been suspended since October 26, 2025. Check the full airline list, which includes unexpected breeds such as Bichon Frise, Maltese and Yorkshire Terrier as well as familiar flat-faced breeds. A narrow exception concerns previously confirmed bookings; it is not an option for a new reservation.

Hold purchases require Customer Information Assistance at least 48 hours ahead. Illness/death refunds require veterinary evidence. Although its URL says “pets-as-cargo”, this page describes passenger hold carriage; it does not establish a separate unaccompanied-cargo service.

For a flat-faced dog, our brachycephalic transport service is cabin-only. Obtain a veterinary fitness assessment and airline acceptance for the actual animal.

Sources: ITA Airways: animals in the hold.

3. Price the exact flight and currency

The tariff lists a 75 kg maximum loaded weight for hold transport. Example cabin / hold supplements: domestic EUR 73 / 83; Europe, Algeria and Tunisia EUR 95 / 105; New York, Boston and Toronto EUR 210 / 280. These are airline supplements, not total relocation costs.

The table charges EUR for departures from Europe and Japan and USD elsewhere, per single flight route. Prices can change when purchased. Regional website versions show different USD figures; obtain a current written quote rather than converting the euro examples. Confirm the charge for each carrier, connection and direction.

Sources: ITA Airways: pet travel supplement · ITA Airways: Belgium tariff version.

4. Large Dog On Board is a separate, limited service

Sales opened July 29, 2026, with operation from August 3. The launch concerns selected Italian domestic flights, following an earlier demonstration; it does not authorize large dogs throughout the international network.

At most two large dogs: one weighing more than 10 kg and up to 15 kg; one weighing more than 15 kg and up to 30 kg. These are dog-only weights. Aircraft, operating conditions and assistance dogs can reduce availability.

CIAO-only purchase, at least four days ahead. Published formula: two fares plus EUR 95. No agency booking or online check-in.

The published flight list includes Rome Fiumicino–Milan Linate AZ2032/AZ2049 and Milan Linate–Palermo AZ1787/AZ1764, among other domestic sectors. Check the linked list and your travel date with CIAO; an eligible city pair does not make every departure eligible.

Sources: ITA Airways: July 29, 2026 launch announcement · ITA Airways: Large Dog On Board conditions · ITA Airways: selected Large Dog flights.

5. Large-dog equipment, documents and floor space

The dog stays on a floor mat. Equipment: collar, leash, muzzle and crash-tested seat-belt harness meeting both CMVSS 213 and FMVSS 213. Minimum age: six months. Provide microchip, vaccination, antiparasitic, veterinary health/behavior/weight and liability-insurance documents. Confirm the ambiguous certificate issue-date window with CIAO.

The admission form requires appropriate public behavior, veterinary suitability and enough floor space. It specifically requires muzzle wear during boarding, the entire flight and disembarkation. Read the liability declarations before signing.

For a brachycephalic dog, have the vet assess muzzle tolerance, breathing and floor-space suitability. A weight below the ceiling does not prove fitness or acceptance; obtain breed-specific approval for this service.

Sources: ITA Airways: Large Dog On Board conditions · ITA Airways: Large Dog admission form (Italian).

6. Separate airline acceptance from entry permission

ITA’s documents page excludes ordinary pets travelling to the United Kingdom; recognized assistance dogs are excepted. Within Italy it asks for an animal health certificate or pet passport. For US-bound dogs it directs travellers to CDC requirements and asks them to contact the airline before travel.

The airline’s documents overview is not a complete country checklist. Verify identification, vaccination, certification and entry rules with the destination authority, including any country where collection and re-check-in would require entry. Confirm every operating carrier independently; this guide does not promise through-checking or an interline pet transfer.

Sources: ITA Airways: pet travel documents.

7. Genuine assistance dogs use a different process

Recognized, trained assistance dogs travel free in cabin; ITA states they are not subject to pet quotas. Request at least 48 hours ahead and provide a training-centre certificate. Confirmation follows document review. The dog stays under the handler’s control, in front of their seat, wearing a harness; seats and emergency exits are excluded.

Emotional-support dogs do not qualify solely through emotional-support status and follow paid pet rules. For mixed-airline itineraries, obtain acceptance from each operating carrier. Disability-related assistance is not a workaround for an ordinary pet that exceeds cabin limits.

Sources: ITA Airways: recognized assistance dogs.

8. Ask for a complete acceptance record

Before committing to travel, request written confirmation of the animal, carrier, flight/date, operating airline, pet-service status and total charge. For multiple pets, distinguish animals per carrier, carriers per passenger and animals permitted on the flight. Those are different limits.

Confirm check-in arrival time, inspection location and collection arrangements. Do not infer available space from an ordinary passenger ticket. Ask what happens if the aircraft changes or the pet cannot be accepted, and obtain the applicable pet-service and passenger-ticket refund terms separately.

Sources: ITA Airways: official contact numbers.

Prepare your route for review

Send the cities, dates, animal’s breed and age, weight, carrier measurements and proposed flights, plus any acceptance already received. For a large dog, include standing dimensions and the airline’s service confirmation. Request a transport proposal.

Related planning

Related reading: Compare airline pet travel · Prepare a carrier · Plan connections.

Official sources and scope

• ITA Airways: standard cabin pets
• ITA Airways: animals in the hold
• ITA Airways: pet travel supplement
• ITA Airways: pet travel documents
• ITA Airways: Large Dog On Board conditions
• ITA Airways: selected Large Dog flights
• ITA Airways: Large Dog admission form (Italian)
• ITA Airways: July 29, 2026 launch announcement
• ITA Airways: recognized assistance dogs
• ITA Airways: official contact numbers
• ITA Airways: Belgium tariff version

Official sources checked October 15, 2026. Published limits do not confirm availability or acceptance on an individual flight. Regional tariff differences and unanswered capacity questions require direct confirmation.