Italy is leading the way in pet-friendly air travel. ENAC now allows medium-sized dogs up to 30kg to fly in the cabin if a seat is purchased. Read more here.
Breaking: ENAC Italy lifts weight limits for pets on airplane seats
Italy leads the way in improving pet travel and these news just confirm that. In 2026, ENAC, the Italian Civil Aviation Authority, announced that medium-sized dogs—up to 30kg—can now fly in the cabin if you buy a seat for them. Meaning no more worrying about the hold for your bigger dog or cat.
Quick Overview – Flying medium dogs in cabin (2026)
| FEATURE | 2026 RULES |
|---|---|
| Weight limit: | Up to 30 kg (seat purchase required) |
| Carrier: | Certified crate, secured to the seat, enough space to sit and turn |
| Safety: | Crate must be stable, well-ventilated, secured with seatbelt or tether |
| Dog’s behaviour: | Calm dogs only |
| Documents: | EU Pet passport/AHC |
| Airlines on board so far: | ITA Airways |
This overview gives a snapshot of what’s needed to fly your medium-sized dog safely in the cabin under Italy’s 2026 ENAC rules.
The 10kg barrier is broken: How Italy’s ENAC is changing in-cabin pet travel
The new rules from the ENAC mean that your dog must travel in a crate that’s securely attached to the airplane seat. It should be comfortable enough for your dog to sit and turn around, and of course well-ventilated as safety is the priority!
But this also means your dog or cat can stay calm and close to you and not being left out in the hold. And it looks like airlines such as ITA Airways are already rolling out this option.
Flying with your dog in Italy: New 2026 rules for cabin seating and safety
For medium-sized dogs, this is a huge improvement. You can now see them, give them a treat, or comfort them if needed.
Italy is setting a new standard for pet-friendly air travel. For owners of larger dogs, this change finally makes flying together less stressful and much more predictable.
Important: Reality of long flights
While the 30kg limit is a great step forward, it currently applies almost exclusively to domestic flights within Italy and operated by ITA Airways. For longer flights in Europe or from the USA, it still stands that any dog over 8 kg must travel in the hold.
Even with Italian carriers, this service is still in a “pilot phase” and is not yet standard for international routes. If you are not sure about your situation, contact your airline directly before booking, as an 18kg dog will likely still need to travel in the hold this year of 2026.
Even though it is an exciting news, the implemention is for a long haul.
Italy paved the way in 2025 for large dogs (read more)
Italy actually started this trend last year, letting larger dogs travel in the cabin under certain rules. It showed early on that pets don’t always need to be stuck in the cargo hold.
The 2026 update just builds on that, now giving medium-sized dogs the same chance to fly safely and comfortably with their owners.