Airlines are increasingly tending to ban short-nosed species such as bulldogs, pugs, dwarf rabbits, or flat-faced Persian cats from air transport. The carriers’ rebuttal is due to numerous deaths occurred during flight and blamed on the airline by infuriated pet owners, damaging the company’s reputation. So, hard times ahead for owners of bulldogs, cocker spaniels or terriers wanting to put their beloved but health-risked pets on a plane.
The number of carriers deciding to refuse the transport of brachycephalic breeds in their fleet’s lower deck holds is increasing rapidly. Austrian Airlines, Air France-KLM, Qantas, American
Airlines, Swiss International - these are only some names that have excluded the transport of dogs, rabbits or cats belonging to snub-nosed breeds.
They do this to protect the life of those particular species and avoid claims by owners of the animals in case of fatality during flight.
Result of doubtful breeding practices
What makes air transportation so hazardous for the brachycephalic breeds is their specific respiratory system with nostrils that are narrower than average and other unfavorable physical
characteristics. This makes breathing generally difficult but even more, if they are in a difficult respiratory environment, putting them at high risk. If traveling by air in a kennel stowed in
the holds of a jetliner, the animal’s breathing capability is further worsened by stress, heat, humidity, and noise.
LH joins the bandwagon
These problems common to short-nosed breeds are referred to by German carrier Lufthansa in its announcement to stop the air transport of brachycephalic animals in the lower decks of passenger
aircraft. Thus, Lufthansa is the latest airline to join the bandwagon so far. “Dogs and cats belonging to snub-nosed breeds have anatomically restricted airways with the accompanying
difficulty in breathing. The stress caused by transportation and/or high temperatures at the departure, transfer and destination airports can cause circulatory issues that may result in breathing
problems. As a result, your pet could suffer serious health problems or even die during the journey.”
Peacock was forbidden to board
The carrier’s statement further reads: “Lufthansa will therefore no longer be transporting these breeds in the cargo hold.” Conversely, the airline basically still tolerates passengers
eager to take an emotional support animal into the cabin to feel comforted during the flight, including snub-nosed species.
However, it is more than doubtful whether this concession is also valid for those wishing to take a peacock into the cabin, as a passenger wanting to board a domestic flight in the USA recently
demanded. Despite her protests and massive complaints, her request was finally turned down by the carrier. She and her peacock had to stay on the ground.
Heiner Siegmund
Footnote: We always welcome your comments to our articles. However, we can only publish them when the sender name is authentic.
Write a comment
Rayhan ahmed (Monday, 06 April 2020 00:31)
I have tied down many animals in
Hold 5 bulk with straps the principle is the same for coffins , hazardous
Goods. The procedure for tie down
Of animals is using pins attached to the floor of the hold 5 Floor and then using
The rope to Lock down the cage .
However there should be no movement
Of the cage and I have tied down 3 to 4
Cats and doors at the same time . This
Can be very difficult we’re the tie down
Equipment is poor which is normally and the space on the floor of the hold 5
Can not take 3 or 5 large cages of
Dogs .
I have tied many dogs and cats down and I have noticed airlines mistreating
Animals ie
1) No water supply
2) No food supply
3) piling hundreds of passenger baggage and cargo with the animals not
Leaving them enough to breath .
I have tied animals down in the hold 5
Rear and boxed them in with baggage
And cargo .
Yes correct wood planks are put down and a sheet is put on top of the blanks the cage is then put on top and tied
Down ... yes all this is fine but when we starting blocking them with cargo ,
Bags then it increases there death on arrival to the destination airport.
If the owner of the dog or cat sees how there pet is treated in the bulk cargo hold that I myself have dealt with there would a lot of filing cases against the airline for compensation.
When I worked on the Virgin B747 /
A3306, on the ramp there was a separation kept from the animals cages
And ie no baggage or cargo was allowed in animal dog or car section
Of the hold 5 they had to be kept
Divided if this rule was not abided by the hold 5 man then displinary action
Would be taken against him.
Many airlines which I have worked and I
Will not mention there names are mistreating animals when reaching
The hold 5 bulk . The only way this can
Be corrected is putting the cats and
Dogs etc on a pallet and having them in
The front or rear cargo holds instead
Of the bulk hold ... this procedure is
Carried out by emerates on there
A380 when I used to ramp handle them
At Heathrow .