Air Canada will change the kind of carriers it allows in the cabin from June 1, 2025.
Passengers must have their in-cabin pet in a soft-sided carrier to ensure that it fits under the seat in all Air Canada aircraft, as the space varies.
You can access Air Canada here.
Air Canada’s Pet Travel Update:
We’re updating our pet travel policy
March 10, 2025
Starting June 1, 2025, all pets travelling in the cabin must be transported in soft-sided carriers.
After this date, hard kennels will no longer be accepted on board any flights operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, or Air Canada Express. If your itinerary includes a flight operated by another airline, please visit their website directly to review their pet travel policies.
We’re letting you know about this change in advance to give you enough time to make sure your pet carrier meets our new guidelines.
Why did we make this change?
The space under the seat in front of you varies from aircraft to aircraft, and hard-sided carriers may not fit on all our planes. This new policy helps us make sure you and your pet are safe and comfortable on board, no matter which aircraft or seat you’re travelling in.
Learn more about travelling with your pet, including maximum carrier sizes.
Air Canada’s Page For Traveling With Pet
Conclusion
Many consider pets family members, and an increasing number are taking them on longer trips (looking at some of my friends).
Traveling with pets is especially complicated between continents. There are specific air services, e.g., between Europe and the US, entirely dedicated to pet travelers, but they are expensive.
