If you’re one of the many dog owners who hates leaving your best fur-ever friend behind when you travel, here’s some great news from across the border — Italy has just approved a new regulation that allows dogs to travel in the cabin on domestic flights.
Yep, that’s right — no more guilt filled, heart-wrenching goodbyes at the cargo drop-off. So now the big question is: When is Spain going to follow?
As of May 2025, Italy has given the green light for dogs under 10kg to travel inside the plane cabin — as long as they’re comfy in an airline-approved soft carrier. But it doesn’t stop there: some airlines are even trialling special pet-friendly rows for larger dogs, where they can sit right next to their owners. Hygiene and safety are top priorities, but what about the emotional comfort? Priceless.
This change is part of a growing movement in Europe to treat animals as sentient beings — not just cargo. Italian airlines like ITA Airways, Neos, and even Volotea (which also flies in Spain) are welcoming the change, seeing it as a win for animal welfare and customer satisfaction.
Why It Matters
Let’s be honest — for most of us, dogs are family. But flying with them? It’s often a nightmare. Big dogs usually end up in the cargo hold, which can be scary, extremely stressful, dangerous and even fatal. Smaller dogs might be allowed in the cabin, but with tricky paperwork, weight limits, and surprise fees, the whole thing becomes more hassle than it’s worth.
Italy’s move is a breath of fresh air. It puts both emotional wellbeing and pet safety front and centre, and it recognises that travelling with pets shouldn’t be a luxury — it should be possible, affordable, and stress-free.
Spain, Are You Listening?
Spain is full of animal lovers — around 11 million dogs live in Spanish homes today, and that number keeps growing. So why not follow Italy’s lead? Here’s why it makes sense:
- Better for the Animals: The heat, noisy baggage holds, fear and stressful separation? It is more humane for our dogs to remain in the protection of their owners.
- Boosts Local Tourism: Many pet owners avoid flying altogether to avoid leaving their dogs behind. More pet-friendly flights mean more holidays, especially to hotspots like Mallorca or the Canary Islands.
- Follows Spain’s Own Laws: Spain already recognised animals as sentient beings back in 2022. It’s time our travel systems caught up with that mindset.
- Helps Charities and Rescue: Adopters, Foster families, rescue groups, and even people moving assistance dogs across the country would benefit hugely from this change.
- More Eco-Friendly Choices: Some travellers might choose a quick flight over a long drive if they knew their dog could join them up front. That could mean fewer cars on the road.
What’s Next?
If Spain wants to move forward, the first step is teamwork — airlines, local governments, and animal welfare organisations need to sit down and make it happen. Starting small, testing pet-friendly routes between main cities such as Madrid and Barcelona, could be the perfect way to test the waters.
Airlines like Iberia or Vueling could lead the way, offering pet owners a new level of comfort and care when flying within Spain.
Italy has shown us that pet-friendly travel isn’t just doable — it’s smart, humane, and long overdue. As more of us look for ways to explore without leaving our dogs behind, Spain has the chance to lead the way in making travel more inclusive for all family members — paws included.
Because let’s face it — in 2025, flying with your dog shouldn’t be a hassle, air companies should be encouraging it.
