IATA has announced a new initiative to make flying with pets in the cabin simpler and more consistent across airlines. Here’s what’s changing — and what still depends on each airline’s own policy.
What IATA is changing — and what it isn’t
The IATA pet travel initiative is designed to make flying with pets in the cabin clearer and more consistent across airlines. It’s not about new laws — it’s about helping airlines follow the same standards when they approve pets to fly.
The goal is to cut confusion and make pet travel more clear with fewer rule changes from one airline to another.
The IATA pet travel initiative: “Making In-Cabin Pet Travel Easier”
Under the new the IATA pet travel initiative, the association is mapping out every step of a pet’s journey in the cabin — from booking and check-in to arrival. The aim is to make information clearer for passengers and airlines alike, especially when it comes to accepted carrier types, animal readiness and required documentation.
Instead of changing the rules, IATA wants to make them easier to follow. The organisation is gathering feedback from airlines, ground handlers and veterinary experts to create a single, reliable framework that travellers can trust. It’s a practical move designed to reduce stress and mistakes — both for passengers and the animals they bring along.
LAR Verify: the tech behind faster compliance
At the centre of IATA’s plan is a new digital system called LAR Verify. It’s a tool airlines can use to check pet travel requirements in real time — everything from approved carriers to document rules. Instead of searching through long manuals, staff will have the latest standards right on screen.
For passengers, this should mean fewer mix-ups at the airport. If an airline uses LAR Verify, your pet’s paperwork and carrier size can be confirmed in advance, not at the check-in desk. It’s a small change on paper, but one that could save a lot of stress on travel day.
Updated IATA resources for passengers
Alongside the new tools for airlines, IATA has also refreshed its public information for travellers. The organisation now offers a short online guide for people flying with dogs or cats in the cabin. It covers everything from preparing your pet for the journey to choosing the right carrier and checking size limits before you book.
It’s not mandatory reading, but it’s one of the few sources that reflect what airlines are actually expected to follow. For passengers, that makes it a useful reference — especially when airline websites still differ on small details like carrier height or ventilation rules – something we cover in our Flying with a cat: Complete guide.
What travellers can expect in practice
For most passengers, nothing dramatic will change overnight. What will change is how airlines manage the process behind the scenes. As they start using IATA’s new systems, things like carrier checks and paperwork reviews should get simpler — less back-and-forth at the counter, more clarity before you even leave home.
It’ll take a while before every airline joins in. Some are already testing the tools, others will follow next year. But once it spreads, travelling with a pet should finally feel more predictable — the same rules, fewer surprises, wherever you fly.
What hasn’t changed yet
The IATA pet travel initiative doesn’t change existing airline or national rules. Airlines still decide their own cabin limits, and countries keep their entry paperwork. Documents like the EU Pet Passport, Animal Health Certificate and rabies vaccination requirements remain exactly as before.
Adoption will be gradual. Until airlines publish updates, the rules that apply are the airline’s pet policy and the destination’s entry requirements. IATA’s work lays the groundwork; it doesn’t change those obligations by itself.