Flying with a pet in India: which airlines carry dogs and cats
Updated By PetymFacts checked against official sources on
Quick answer
Two Indian airlines carry pet dogs and cats in the cabin: Air India and Akasa Air, both up to 10 kg including the carrier, for Rs 7,500 a flight. SpiceJet carries dogs in the cargo hold only.
IndiGo and Air India Express do not carry pets; they accept only trained service dogs. There is no single DGCA pet rulebook: each airline writes its own policy (each airline's published policy, checked 21 October 2026).
Pets on India's domestic airlines (October 2026)
| Option | Pets in the cabin | Cabin limit and fee | Pets in the hold | Snub-nosed breeds | Pet fee refunded? | How to book | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air India | Yes, Economy only; an aisle seat at the back | 10 kg with the carrier; Rs 7,500 a sector, taxes extra | 10 to 32 kg as checked baggage, Rs 16,000; over 32 kg as cargo | Cabin only, not as checked baggage | No, unless Air India's own conditions stop the pet flying in the cabin | Upload documents via Contact Support at least 48 hours ahead, or book at an Air India counter | Air India |
| Akasa Air | Yes, domestic non-stop flights; a window seat | 10 kg with the container; Rs 7,500 including taxes | Up to 32 kg, Rs 15,000 including taxes; 32 to 100 kg as cargo | Cabin only, not the hold | Akasa's pages disagree: its terms say no; one FAQ answer says yes if you cancel the pet's flight sector | Akasa Care Centre by phone, at least 24 hours ahead | Akasa Air |
| SpiceJet | No | Not stated | Dogs only, up to 35 kg without the cage, direct domestic flights | Refused | No pet fee published | Call centre team: +91 9999 570 570 or [email protected] | SpiceJet |
| IndiGo | No, service dogs only | Not stated | No | Not stated | Not stated | Service dogs: call centre, 48 hours ahead | IndiGo |
| Air India Express | No, service dogs only | Not stated | No | Not stated | Not stated | Service dogs: 48 hours' notice | Air India Express |
Which Indian airline can take my pet on this trip?
It depends on what your pet weighs with its carrier, whether the trip needs a change of plane, and its breed.
If your pet weighs 10 kg or less with its carrier and you fly non-stop within India
Akasa Air and Air India both take it in the cabin for Rs 7,500 a flight. Akasa's fee includes taxes; Air India adds taxes to its fee. Akasa Air Akasa Air
If your trip needs a change of plane
Only Air India takes a cabin pet, and only when both flights are Air India's. Akasa carries cabin pets on non-stop flights only, and SpiceJet takes dogs on direct flights only. Air India Air India
If your pet weighs 10 to 32 kg with its container
It flies in the hold: Rs 16,000 plus taxes on Air India, or Rs 15,000 including taxes on Akasa Air. SpiceJet takes dogs up to 35 kg, not counting the cage. Air India
If your dog weighs more than 32 kg
Air India books it as cargo. Akasa Air flies it unaccompanied from the cargo terminal, up to 100 kg with the container. Akasa Air
If your dog is a snub-nosed breed such as a Pug or a Shih Tzu
Air India and Akasa Air take it in the cabin if it weighs 10 kg or less with the carrier, but not in the hold as baggage. SpiceJet refuses these breeds outright. Akasa Air
If your pet is a bird
No airline takes one in the cabin. Air India Cargo ships most pet birds as cargo, except species restricted under CITES. Air India Cargo
If you are booked on IndiGo or Air India Express
Neither carries pets. Both accept only trained service dogs, with 48 hours' notice. IndiGo IndiGo
Is there a DGCA rule for flying with a pet in India?
Not a single pet rulebook. A 1937 rule lets animals fly only under the Director-General's written permit, and within it each airline writes its own pet policy.
1937
Rule 24C of the Aircraft Rules: no animal, bird or reptile may be carried on an aircraft to, from or within India except under a general or special written permit from the Director-General. Petym read it in the Ministry's scanned copy, and could not confirm whether it has since been replaced under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024. Ministry of Civil Aviation
April 2022
The Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Airports Authority of India define a service animal as a dog individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. The same guide says DGCA's instructions in AIC No. 09/1984 “shall be implemented”; Petym could not find that circular's text. Ministry of Civil Aviation and Airports Authority of India (on the DGCA portal)
18 March 2026
The Ministry of Civil Aviation directs airlines, through DGCA, to “bring out clear, transparent policies for carriage of pets”. Press Information Bureau (Ministry of Civil Aviation)
21 October 2026
Each airline still sets its own rules, which is why the five differ so much: two carry cabin pets, one carries dogs in the hold, and two carry only service dogs.
How much does a pet's flight cost there and back within India?
Both airlines that carry cabin pets tie the fee to each flight, so a return trip costs twice the one-way fee. The fees are as published; the return totals in the footnote are Petym's arithmetic.
As published
- Air India, cabin pet, domestic, each sectorRs 7,500 + taxesEvery segment of the trip is charged separately. Air India
- Air India, checked-baggage pet (10 to 32 kg), domestic, each sectorRs 16,000 + taxes Air India
- Air India, checked-baggage pet on a connecting tripExcess-baggage charges, each segmentCharged by weight or piece whether or not you use your free baggage allowance, and paid at your origin for every segment. Air India
- Akasa Air, cabin pet (up to 10 kg)Rs 7,500 incl. taxesTied to the flight sector the pet is booked on. Akasa Air
- Akasa Air, hold pet (up to 32 kg)Rs 15,000 incl. taxes Akasa Air
- SpiceJet, dog in the holdNot publishedAsk its call centre team for a quote. SpiceJet
- IndiGo and Air India ExpressNo pet serviceService dogs only.
- Tax on Air India's pet feeRate not publishedAir India's domestic tariff sheet as on 9 October 2026 gives GST on fares only and has no pet line. Air India
Petym's arithmetic for a non-stop return trip: a cabin pet costs Rs 15,000 including taxes on Akasa Air (2 × Rs 7,500) and Rs 15,000 plus taxes on Air India; a hold pet costs Rs 30,000 on Akasa and Rs 32,000 plus taxes on Air India. Akasa's FAQ ties its fee to a sector but does not say “per sector” in so many words.
Can my pet fly in the Indian summer?
No Indian airline publishes a summer embargo. The heat rules that exist are about snub-nosed breeds: IATA advises against flying them in hot weather, and Air India draws lines at 20 °C and 25 °C.
If your dog is snub-nosed, such as a Boxer, Pug, Bulldog or Pekingese
IATA does not recommend flying these dogs in the hot season: they have difficulty keeping a normal body temperature in hot weather. IATA
If you fly a snub-nosed pet in the cabin on Air India
Air India's indemnity form strongly recommends not sending a short-headed pet, or any pet prone to breathing difficulty, if the temperature may exceed 20 °C at any point of the journey. Air India
If you plan to send a snub-nosed pet with Air India Cargo
Air India Cargo carries snub-nosed and flat-faced pets only when temperatures are below 25 °C. Air India's passenger pages keep them out of the hold altogether. Air India Cargo
If a snub-nosed dog has to travel in a hold crate
IATA's rules ask for a crate 10% larger than usual, stowed as far as practical from other loads so the dog has the most air. IATA
If you fly Akasa Air and worry about the heat in the hold
Akasa says its cargo compartments are kept between 18 and 22 °C, so a pet needs no coat. Snub-nosed breeds still fly with Akasa only in the cabin. Akasa Air
If you meant to fly a snub-nosed dog on SpiceJet
SpiceJet refuses snub-nosed and short-muzzled dogs in any season, because they are prone to heat stroke and breathing difficulty. SpiceJet
If you are looking for an airline's summer embargo dates
Petym found none: the five airlines' pet pages, FAQs and conditions of carriage name no embargo period. Ask the airline about your date before you book.
What kind of carrier can go in an aircraft cabin?
Under IATA's rules a cabin carrier need not be rigid and needs no spacers or bowls, but it must carry a Live Animal label, and check-in staff must refuse one that falls short. Each airline then sets its own maximum size.
25 mm
The largest opening allowed in a dog's carrier, 25 × 25 mm. For a cat it is 19 × 19 mm. IATA
16 %
Of the area of the carrier's four sides should be ventilation openings, in IATA's checklist for cabin carriers. IATA
8 weeks
The youngest a dog or cat may be to fly. Unweaned animals must not travel. IATA
17 × 10 × 9 in
Air India's largest soft carrier, for a pet that weighs up to 10 kg with it. Air India
19 × 12.6 × 10 in
Akasa Air's largest cabin container, stowed under the seat in front. Akasa Air
How do I get my pet ready for a flight, from weeks ahead to check-in?
IATA's advice for pet owners, then each Indian airline's own rules for the day, and the airline's rules come first.
- Weeks or months ahead, let your pet get used to its carrier. IATA
- Confirm the airline takes your pet on that day and flight. Airlines limit the animals on a flight, so ask early. IATA
- Make sure your pet can be identified, for example by a microchip. IATA
- Check the carrier under a seat: a soft carrier can be squashed, which cuts the ventilation and lets heat build up. IATA
- The day before, give less food but enough water. IATA
- Walk your dog before you leave for the airport, and again before check-in. IATA
- Air India: be at the airport at least 3 hours before departure, and do not sedate your pet, Air India refuses sedated pets. Air India
- Akasa Air: be there at least 2 hours before departure, and show your dog's muzzle and leash at check-in, or it cannot fly. Akasa Air
- SpiceJet: hand your dog over muzzled and leashed, fed and watered. SpiceJet
- Within the airline's reporting time, IATA's rule of thumb is to check a cabin pet in as late as possible, and a hold pet early, so it can settle somewhere quiet. IATA
What vet papers does each Indian airline ask for?
Every airline that carries pets asks for a registered vet's certificate that the pet is fit to fly, and its rabies vaccination record. How recent the certificate must be differs, from 48 hours on SpiceJet to 7 days on Air India, so get it last and check the rule for your airline.
| What | The rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Air India | A health and rabies vaccination certificate from a registered vet saying the pet is fit to fly, issued within 7 days before departure, and Air India's indemnity form. | Air India |
| Akasa Air | A rabies vaccination certificate and a fit-to-fly certificate from a registered vet, and a signed indemnity form. Akasa's terms ask for the certificate within 72 hours of travel, and also say it stays valid for 15 days from issue, confirm with Akasa. | Akasa Air |
| SpiceJet | A vet's health certificate no more than 48 hours old at departure, the rabies vaccination record, and a shipper's declaration and indemnity signed at the cargo warehouse. | SpiceJet |
| IndiGo (service dogs) | ID cards showing it is a service animal, confirmation of its training from an appropriate institution, and its vaccination certificate. | IndiGo |
Did DGCA tell airlines to publish their pet policies?
From news reports, not yet an official source.
No DGCA or PIB copy of the January 2023 advisory was found, nor the text of the circular it rests on, which the report dates to 1985 and a 2022 Ministry guide to 1984.
18 January 2023
The Quint reported that DGCA advised airlines to make and prominently display their policy for carrying pets on their websites, said the final responsibility for a flight's safety lies with the pilot-in-command, and referred to AIC 9 of 1985. The Quintnews report
6 April 2026
Skift reported that the government had put on hold a new rule making seat selection free, while the direction on transparent policies for pet carriage would continue to apply. Skiftnews report
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Questions owners ask
Which airlines in India allow pets in the cabin?
- Air India (Economy only) and Akasa Air (domestic non-stop flights), both for pets up to 10 kg including the carrier. SpiceJet, IndiGo and Air India Express do not carry pets in the cabin.
Can my dog sit on my lap on a domestic flight in India?
- No. Air India and Akasa Air both keep the pet in its closed carrier under the seat in front for the whole flight, and Air India says the pet cannot sit on a seat or your lap.
Can I sedate my pet for a flight within India?
- No. Air India and Akasa Air both refuse sedated pets, and IATA does not recommend tranquillising dogs and cats. Talk to your vet about how your pet copes with travel instead.
Do Indian airlines accept emotional support animals?
- Air India and Akasa Air say no. Trained guide and service dogs are a separate category: Air India flies a trained guide dog for a passenger with impaired vision or hearing free of charge, and Akasa Air takes one guide dog per aircraft, only if no one has already asked to bring a guide dog or a cabin pet on that aircraft.
Is there a DGCA rule on carrying pets on flights in India?
- Rule 24C of the Aircraft Rules, 1937 allows animals on an aircraft only under a written permit from DGCA's Director-General. Within that, each airline writes its own pet policy. On 18 March 2026 the Ministry of Civil Aviation directed airlines to publish “clear, transparent policies for carriage of pets”.
How much does a return domestic flight with a cabin pet cost in India?
- Rs 15,000 including taxes on Akasa Air (Rs 7,500 each way), and Rs 15,000 plus taxes on Air India, which charges Rs 7,500 per sector. That is Petym's arithmetic from each airline's published one-way fee.
Can I fly a pet bird or rabbit within India?
- Not in the cabin: Air India and Akasa Air carry only dogs and cats there, and SpiceJet carries only dogs, in the hold. Air India Cargo ships most pet birds as cargo, except species restricted under CITES. Petym found no airline page that mentions rabbits.
Keep reading
- Air India pet policyFees at home and abroad, seats and how to book.
- Akasa Air pet policyCabin and hold pets, booked by phone.
- SpiceJet pet policyDogs in the hold, and the breeds it refuses.
- Dog in train rulesIRCTC booking, coupes and the dog box.
- Travelling with a pet in IndiaEvery way to travel, in one place.
Keep exploring
More ways to travel with a pet
Airline by airline
Sources
Each source was opened and read on the date shown. How Petym checks its sources
- Air India: Travelling with pets (opens in a new tab)
- Air India: FAQ: rules for carriage of pets (opens in a new tab)
- Air India Cargo: Pets (personal cargo) and FAQ (opens in a new tab)
- Air India: Declaration / Indemnity Form for Carriage of Pets (opens in a new tab)
- Air India: Domestic tariff sheet as on 09 Oct 2026 (no pet line) (opens in a new tab)
- Akasa Air: Pets on Akasa: policy and FAQ (opens in a new tab)
Show all 20 sourcesShow fewer
- Akasa Air: Conditions of Carriage (cl. 9 service dogs; cl. 18 pets) (opens in a new tab)
- SpiceJet: Terms and conditions of carriage: carriage of live animals (AVI) (opens in a new tab)
- SpiceJet: FAQ: general (domestic and international) (opens in a new tab)
- IndiGo: Special and disability assistance: service dogs (opens in a new tab)
- IndiGo: Conditions of carriage (opens in a new tab)
- Air India Express: Terms and conditions (conditions of carriage) (opens in a new tab)
- IATA: Traveler's Pet Corner (opens in a new tab)
- IATA: Live Animals Regulations, Container Requirement 1 (Edition 52, January 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- IATA: Guidance for Passengers Traveling with their Dog or Cat in the Cabin (opens in a new tab)
- Ministry of Civil Aviation: The Aircraft Rules, 1937 (consolidated scanned copy; Rule 24C) (opens in a new tab)
- Ministry of Civil Aviation and Airports Authority of India (on the DGCA portal): Accessibility Standards and Guidelines for Civil Aviation 2022 (opens in a new tab)
- Press Information Bureau (Ministry of Civil Aviation): Strengthening Passenger Facilitation in Indian Aviation (18 Mar 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- The Quint: 'Prominently Display Pet Carriage Policy on Website': DGCA tells Airlines (18 Jan 2023) (opens in a new tab)
- Skift: India Puts on Hold New Policy Making Flight Seat Selection Free (6 Apr 2026) (opens in a new tab)