ITA Airways: dogs up to 30 kg in the cabin, from 3 August 2026

ITA Airways is the first European airline to carry large dogs in the cabin outside a carrier. The service is called Large Dog On Board, accepts dogs up to 30 kg and starts on 3 August 2026 on a selection of domestic flights. It is not a shortcut: it is a procedure with strict requirements, two tickets to buy and no online check-in.

At a glance

• Maximum weight. 30 kg, dog without a carrier
• Where. selected domestic flights only, marked as Large Dog flights
• From. 3 August 2026
• Places per flight. maximum 2 dogs: one 10-15 kg, one 15-30 kg
• Cost. two tickets plus a 95 EUR PETX fee
• Booking. CIAO Contact Center only, at least 4 days ahead
• Mandatory. Crash Tested harness, CMVSS 213 and FMVSS 213
• Minimum age. 6 months

Who gets on board and where they sit

Each Large Dog flight takes a maximum of two dogs: one over 10 kg and up to 15 kg, and one over 15 kg and up to 30 kg. Availability depends on the aircraft type, on other animals already booked and on the operating conditions of the flight.

On Airbus A220 aircraft, the dog over 15 kg travels in the first row on the left side, in the window seat, with the owner in the aisle seat. The dog between 10 and 15 kg goes in the last row on the left side, again by the window, with the owner in the aisle seat.

On Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft, the dog over 15 kg takes the window seat of the first row, the owner sits in the aisle seat and the middle seat stays empty. The dog between 10 and 15 kg travels by the window in the last row, the owner in the middle seat, and the aisle seat may be assigned to another passenger.

The dog does not travel on the seat: it stays on a mat supplied by ITA Airways, placed on the floor in front of its dedicated space.

The Crash Tested harness is the real bottleneck

For the whole flight the dog must be secured to the seat belt with a Crash Tested harness compliant with CMVSS 213 and FMVSS 213. These are the child-restraint safety standards used in Canada and the United States: not any harness, but a model with certification declared by the manufacturer.

The harness is checked at check-in. Without a compliant harness, boarding is refused, even with the service paid and confirmed. Buy it weeks ahead and keep the manufacturer's documentation.

On board the dog must also wear a muzzle, collar and lead, and must stay in its assigned area for the whole journey.

Documents: a long list, prepared in advance

At request and again at check-in you need: a veterinary attestation issued no more than 20 days before the flight confirming the dog's fitness to fly, covering health, behaviour and weight; the animal's ID document or passport; up-to-date vaccination records; proof of the mandatory third-party pet liability insurance; and the Pet Acceptance Form signed by the owner.

The 20-day window on the veterinary attestation catches most people out: if you book well ahead, schedule the vet visit close to the flight date, not straight after purchase.

The dog must also be at least 6 months old, identified with a compliant ISO microchip, hold a valid rabies vaccination and up-to-date core vaccinations, and have had antiparasitic treatment.

What it actually costs

The service requires buying two tickets — one for the passenger and one to guarantee the dog its dedicated space in the cabin — plus a 95 EUR PETX fee, identical across all fares: Economy Light, Classic and Flex, Business Saver and Flex.

In practice: the flight cost doubles, then a fixed fee is added. On a domestic route in low season it can stay reasonable; in high season or on Flex fares it becomes a significant amount. That is the price of a physical seat taken in the cabin.

How to book: by phone only

Large Dog On Board can be requested and purchased only through the CIAO Contact Center. It cannot be bought online, through a travel agency, or added via the standard self-service booking flows.

ITA recommends requesting it as early as possible and in any case at least 4 days before departure, because confirmation always depends on checking availability and requirements.

Web check-in is not available. All checks are done at the airport, so plan to arrive at the desk well ahead with the full documentation in hand.

When the service can fall through

The service is unavailable if the flight is not identified as a Large Dog flight, if capacity is used up, or if operational or safety limitations apply.

The airline also reserves the right not to confirm when documentation is incomplete or non-compliant, or when the dog does not meet the requirements.

One specific case concerns service animals (SVAN), which have priority: with one SVAN on board only one Large Dog may be accepted; with two SVAN the service may not be available on that flight.

Passengers have a route out too: anyone with allergies or particular sensitivity to a dog in the cabin can contact the CIAO Contact Center to look at alternative travel solutions, assessed case by case.

What changes for medium-sized dogs

Until now a 20 kg dog leaving Italy had one option: the hold, with the stress and risk that involves, or cargo. Large Dog On Board opens a real alternative, even if for now it is limited to a few domestic routes and two places per flight.

ITA has said it intends to extend the service to more domestic flights and, in time, to international flights, subject to a progressive review of limits and procedures by the competent authorities. For now, plan around what is confirmed: selected domestic flights, from 3 August 2026.

If your route is not a Large Dog flight, the standard rules apply: 12 kg in the cabin on domestic flights and 8 kg elsewhere, in a soft carrier.

Frequently asked questions

• How much can a dog weigh with ITA Airways Large Dog?
  Up to 30 kg. Each Large Dog flight takes a maximum of two dogs: one over 10 kg and up to 15 kg, and one over 15 kg and up to 30 kg.
• When does Large Dog On Board start?
  On 3 August 2026, on a selection of domestic flights identified by ITA Airways as Large Dog flights. Availability must always be checked at the time of the request.
• Can I buy the Large Dog service online?
  No. It can only be requested and bought through the CIAO Contact Center, at least 4 days before departure. It is not available online, through agencies or in self-service booking flows, and web check-in is not offered.
• How much does it cost to fly a 30 kg dog in the cabin with ITA Airways?
  Two tickets are required — one for the passenger and one for the dog's space — plus a 95 EUR PETX fee, the same across all Economy and Business fares.
• What harness is required for Large Dog?
  A Crash Tested harness compliant with CMVSS 213 and FMVSS 213, mandatory to secure the dog to the seat belt for the whole flight. It is checked at check-in: without it, boarding is refused.
• What documents are needed for Large Dog On Board?
  A veterinary fitness attestation issued no more than 20 days before the flight (covering health, behaviour and weight), the animal's ID document or passport, up-to-date vaccination records, proof of third-party pet liability insurance and the Pet Acceptance Form signed by the owner.
• Does the dog travel on a seat?
  No. The dog stays on a dedicated mat supplied by ITA Airways, placed on the floor in front of its assigned space, secured to the seat belt with the Crash Tested harness.
• What happens if there is a service dog on board?
  Service animals (SVAN) have priority. With one SVAN on board only one Large Dog may be accepted; with two SVAN the service may not be available on that flight.

Experiences from people who flew ITA Airways Large Dog On Board

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