Virgin Australia is set to become the first airline in the country to welcome pets onboard, with its new ‘Pets in Cabin’ service. The Australian-first service will initially launch as a trial on flights between Melbourne and the Gold Coast and Melbourne and the Sunshine Coast, with the inaugural flight scheduled to take off from Melbourne Airport on 16 October 2025. Tickets for furry companions (small dogs and/or cats only) are available for an introductory price of $149 per animal, per flight.
Since announcing its intention to launch ‘Pets in Cabin’ flights in March 2024, Virgin Australia has 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.
Virgin Australia will use the trial to capture important customer insights and feedback before planning a broader rollout of the service across its domestic network next year.
“Our guests have been telling us for years how much they want to travel alongside their pets and now they finally can,” said Dave Emerson, Virgin Australia Group Chief Executive Officer. “It’s a model that’s proven successful in the US and Europe and we’re thrilled to bring it to Australia. With almost 70% 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. Pets on flights is another example of Virgin Australia leading the way with new and improved service offerings and first-to-market experiences for our guests. Innovation has always been a hallmark of Virgin Australia. We were the first airline in the country to offer online check-in, baggage tracking, and globally, we were the first airline to reward guests for sitting in the middle seat (through our Middle Seat Lottery promotion). It’s this innovation and relentless focus on our customer that’s at the core of who we are in the market.”
