Hong Kong Airlines aims to extend its recently introduced pet-carrying cabin service to additional destinations due to high demand, which has resulted in reservations being fully booked up till mid-November.
During an exclusive interview with the South China Morning Post earlier this week, President Jeff Sun Jianfeng disclosed future plans for expanding their pet-in-cabin offering along with launching new family-oriented services designed to cater specifically to infants, kids, and seniors. This move aims to position the company as a comprehensive air travel option within Hong Kong.
He mentioned that they have been developing this pet-friendly service concept for quite some time since many pet enthusiasts consider their furry friends as part of the family and find it difficult to leave them behind when traveling abroad.
During our service upgrades, we aim to meet our customers' needs comprehensively. Keeping this in view, we introduced the pet-in-cabin option as the premier and sole at-home service of its kind available in Hong Kong.
This further reinforces Hong Kong Airlines' position as a carrier welcoming to animals.
Launched in February, this new service is presently offered exclusively for flights to Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya. It comes with a price tag of HK$8,800 (US$1,120) per pet, in addition to the owner’s ticket cost. This option lets travelers transport their dogs and cats within the cabin as long as the pets remain beneath the passenger's seat throughout the flight.
Every flight offers between two to six seats for pets traveling in the cabin, with reservations required through Pet Holidays, the exclusive partner of the airline. Only dogs and cats weighing under 8 kilograms each are permitted, and they must fit inside a carrier measuring no more than 45 cm long by 21 cm wide by 37 cm high.
The airline has set up a dedicated check-in area for passengers traveling with pets. Staff will accompany these travelers through the fast-track lanes for both security checks and passport control all the way to the departure gate.
According to present regulations, pets are prohibited from entering the passenger cabin of incoming flights to Hong Kong. Therefore, when passengers return to the city, their animals will have to travel in the plane’s cargo hold.
Regan Wan, the project manager for Pet Holidays, stated that this new offering provides an affordable option. Without it, pet owners would have to opt either for private jet transportation, which ranges from HK$100,000 to HK$200,000 for a round trip, or check their pets as luggage.
He stated, 'This service represents a major advancement for pet-friendly travel, offering an intimate and comforting experience for pet owners without breaking the bank.'
He mentioned that the new service has been well-received, with his company fielding more than 100 queries daily since its introduction and experiencing fully booked schedules all the way up to mid-November.
The carrier’s pet-friendly program coincides with the city’s shift toward a more welcoming atmosphere for animals, as evidenced by the MTR Corporation’s recent pilot project permitting passengers to bring their pets on light rail services. Additionally, bus company KMB initiated a public transportation option for pets back in October of the previous year.
As per Grand View Research, the Asian-Pacific pet travel services sector is anticipated to grow to a forecasted income of $690.2 million by 2030, up from $378.5 million recorded previously. This represents a predicted compound annual growth rate of 10.7% between 2025 and 2030.
Sun stated that since the service has been operating seamlessly, the airline is contemplating expanding it to additional locations featuring more flexible amenities, like providing accommodation for bigger animals and giving them their own seats.
He mentioned that they are currently considering expanding this service to include additional destinations with an increased number of seats per flight.
We're also considering additional possibilities like hosting bigger-sized animals and permitting travelers to buy an additional seat for their pets.
Once our service becomes more stable, we can begin adding new features gradually.
The sun highlighted that the airline does not view its service as a specialized segment aimed at surpassing rival domestic carriers. The company expressed satisfaction seeing other airlines introduce comparable offerings to foster a more welcoming environment for pets.
He stated, 'Our aim is to ensure our passengers are satisfied since we strive to be an inclusive airline. Ideally, this satisfaction would lead them to share their positive experiences with friends and family.'
In the future, Sun announced that the company intended to introduce customized services aimed at enhancing the comfort of toddlers, children, or seniors during flights. This initiative was designed to ensure that families have a more pleasant travel experience with the airline.
He mentioned that when traveling with the entire family, both children and seniors need considerable assistance.
We aim for our specially designed family-oriented services to provide a worry-free journey, ensuring that every member of your family can savor their flight.
Customer Yolly Chan, 60, who works in the wholesale sector, said she had used the carrier's pet-in-cabin service in March to travel to Tokyo with her 12-year-old puppy Cobbie.
She made trips to Japan roughly two times each year and mentioned that this service spared her the inconvenience of having to make connecting flights with other carriers like Korean Air or opting for a private jet, which would have cost more than HK$100,000 for a round trip.
"It was all very smooth and comfortable, and Cobbie behaved really well without causing any disturbance as he usually does when I'm nearby. The other travelers even greeted him," she mentioned.
This service has enabled me to experience the flight together with him affordably. I don’t have to be separated from him or fret about how he’s doing while I’m abroad.
Chan expressed hope that the carrier might expand the availability of pet-in-cabin seating options within business class and broaden its services to include routes like those to Taiwan and South Korea, noting she would enthusiastically endorse this option to her acquaintances.
Several other global carriers offer in-cabin pet services for departures from Hong Kong, such as Air France, which accepts dogs and cats provided their total weight—including the container—does not exceed 8 kg. Passengers can bring one animal into the cabin per booking, with fees varying between £70 ($79) and £200.
For Korean Air, you can bring along dogs, cats, and birds in the cabin for an additional charge of approximately $250 per pet. These animals should be placed in appropriate carriers, and their owners will need to provide all required health documentation.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. Syndigate.info ).
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