Italy Becomes the First Country in Europe to Let Large Dogs Fly in the Cabin

For anyone who has ever watched their big dog disappear into cargo and spent the whole flight worrying, Italy just delivered some genuinely welcome news. The country has officially become the first in Europe to allow medium and large dogs to fly in the cabin alongside their owners, rather than being shipped in the hold like luggage.

Italy’s Civil Aviation Authority, known as ENAC, introduced the new guidelines in 2025, with updates continuing into 2026 that now extend the policy to dogs weighing up to 30 kilograms on domestic routes. According to TravelPulse, pets must be placed in approved carriers secured near window seats, away from emergency exits. Individual airlines still set their own specific procedures, but ITA Airways has already begun rolling out the option on domestic flights.

This matters for real reasons. Cargo holds expose animals to temperature swings, loud noise, and complete separation from the people they trust. For flat-faced breeds like Bulldogs and Boxers, cargo travel carries serious respiratory risks. Keeping a dog in the cabin removes those dangers and dramatically reduces the stress of flying for both the animal and the owner.

ENAC president Pierluigi Di Palma described the change as a response to new social needs that remains fully compatible with flight safety. Italy’s Transport Minister called it a matter of common sense. Both are right. The old weight cutoffs were arbitrary, and the cargo hold was never a humane default for healthy, well-behaved animals.

The bigger question now is whether other countries will follow. In the United States, commercial airlines still ban large dogs from the cabin entirely. Italy’s policy is a live test case, and animal welfare advocates are watching closely.

If you believe our companion animals deserve better, let airlines know. Your voice matters.

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