Find everything you need to know about travelling with trained service animals, falcons, cats and dogs with Etihad Airways.
You must submit all required documents before your flight and bring the original copies with you for verification at the airport. Your pet will not be permitted to fly otherwise.
If you have any questions, please email pets@etihad.ae.
You can pay to bring your cat or dog on board Etihad operated flights to and from Abu Dhabi. Pets are allowed to travel in Economy and Business only. For all other destinations, please check with the relevant country authorities.
All other pets must be transported as manifested cargo with Etihad Cargo.
Before you travel with your cat or dog, make sure:
On board, your pet must always stay in their carrier. They must be able to sit, stand, turn around and lie down in their carrier.
Carriers must:
Arrive at check-in with your pet in a suitable carrier three hours before departure.
You must present all required documents at check-in. Your pet will not be permitted to fly otherwise.
Your pet can travel in addition to your cabin baggage allowance.
If you’re eligible to use one of our lounges in Abu Dhabi, you can bring your pet along too. Lounge access for pets in other airports is subject to local regulations and access policy.
We recommend that you board before other guests to give our crew time to help prepare your pet for travel.
If Abu Dhabi is your final destination, you must complete all arrival formalities according to UAE regulations. This includes an inspection by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) veterinary officer, performed in the Customs clearance area.
For all other destinations, you must complete all arrival formalities according to local regulations. Inspection and clearance areas may vary from airport to airport. Check with the applicable authority at your destination for specific requirements.
Apply for an import permit for your pet. This must be included in the documents submitted to us no later than 72 hours before your flight.
If you want to bring your pet on a flight to the UAE, you must complete a UAE Health Certificate. This certificate must be signed and stamped by a government health official in your country of departure, within five days of your flight. Stamps from private veterinarians are not accepted.
Apply for an Abu Dhabi Customs Bill of Entry. This must be done no later than 48 hours before your flight. To do this, send the following to AUHCustoms@noatumlogistics.ae
NOATUM will review the documents and share a payment link. Once you have completed payment, the Bill of Entry will be provided to you via email.
Note:
Falcons are permitted on board all Etihad operated flights.
If you’d like to travel with a falcon on board, please call us to book in advance of your flight.
If you have a qualifying disability, you can travel with a trained service dog with a license from any ADI or IGDF accredited organisation. You need this service dog license on all flights except for flights from the US. If you have a psychiatric support dog, you can only travel with it on a direct flight from the US.
Dogs trained for emotional support, comfort or companionship, or service dogs in training are not permitted on board as a trained service dog. You can pay to carry these dogs on board if they meet our rules for pets (check pets' section).
Trained service dogs must behave properly in public. They will not be accepted in the cabin if they display any form of disruptive behaviour, which may include growling, biting, jumping or causing damage to the cabin.
Trained service dogs are permitted at no cost on board all Etihad operated flights or in the cargo hold in addition to your checked baggage allowance.
If you are travelling with a trained service dog, please remember to call us at least 48 hours before your flight. For all flights, you must complete a Live Animals On-Board Booking Form.
Our priority is to ensure a comfortable flight for all guests. If your service dog does not behave appropriately, we may have to refuse carriage or transfer the dog to the cargo hold at no additional costs.
Legal requirements need to be fulfilled, and embargos must be followed for origin and destination.
If you are flying to or from the United States with a service dog, you need to complete a U.S. DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form and a U.S. DOT Service Animal Relief Attestation Form. From 1 August 2024, there are new rules for bringing service dogs into the U.S.
For more information, please visit the CDC website: CDC Dog Import Regulations.
Due to government-imposed restrictions, you will not be permitted to travel with your pet on board on the following routes:
Flying to or from:
Flying to:
Dogs posing a danger such as the below are not permitted on our aircraft.
Banned Breeds
Pit Bulls
Mastiff Dogs
Tosa
Rottweilers breed or hybrid
Doberman Pinschers
Canario Presa
BoxerAny mixed breed of above breeds of dog or their Hybrid
If you upgrade your flight, please call us to rebook your cat or dog to travel with you. In Business, you must pay for an additional seat for your pet. Your pet must travel always with you in the same cabin.
To travel with your cat, dog or trained service dog on board, submit a booking form at least seven days before your flight. To travel with a falcon, please call us.
You must complete this form in English.
If someone is allergic to animals and a guest with a trained service dog requests to travel on the same flight, the trained service dog will take priority, regardless of the time of reservation. Allergies must be proved by a medical report submitted before the flight.
If a guest with a trained service dog and a guest with a pet request to travel in the same cabin on the same flight, the trained service dog will take priority, regardless of the time of reservation!
