Akasa Air Crosses 10,000 Pet Passengers Since Launch Of ‘Pets on Akasa’

Pet travel Continues To Grow At Akasa Air

Akasa Air announced that it has flown over 10,000 pets since launching its ‘Pets on Akasa’ service in November 2022. The milestone highlights the airline’s growing reputation as a reliable and pet-friendly carrier.

The achievement reflects the trust that pet owners place in Akasa Air’s carefully designed pet travel service, which focuses on safety, comfort and ease. Since its introduction, the service has seen steady demand on major domestic routes, with many customers choosing to travel with their pets again, showing continued confidence in the offering.

To mark the occasion, the airline recognised its 10,000th pet passenger, Topshe, who travelled on flight QP 1559 from Mumbai to Kolkata. The celebration included a small check-in event with photographs and videos, as well as special gifts presented to the pet’s owner by airline staff. The milestone was also acknowledged during the flight and on arrival in Kolkata, making it a memorable moment in Akasa Air’s pet travel journey.

Since the launch of its pet travel service, Akasa Air has flown more than 10,000 pets across its network. Demand has been particularly strong during the festive period, with October to December accounting for nearly 35 per cent of the year’s total pet journeys. During these months, average monthly volumes were almost 63 per cent higher, reflecting a growing trend of pet owners choosing to travel with their animals during holidays.

A wide range of breeds have travelled with the airline, from Labradors and Golden Retrievers to Shih Tzus and Indian mixed breeds, showing that pet travel is becoming increasingly common. While metro cities continue to see strong numbers, there has also been notable demand from Tier II and Tier III cities, with Guwahati emerging as one of the most popular routes for pet travellers.

Of the 10,000 pets flown so far, around 60 per cent have been dogs and 40 per cent cats. A significant 93 per cent of pets have travelled in the cabin, highlighting a clear preference among owners to keep their pets close during the flight. The airline has also seen strong repeat travel, including one customer who has flown 26 times between Mumbai and Goa with his miniature poodle, Romeo, underlining the consistency and reliability of the airline’s pet travel service.

Commenting on the milestone, Naarayan T V, Chief Marketing Officer, Akasa Air, said, “From the very start, Pets on Akasa was built around the needs of pet parents, with a focus on creating a structured, safe and consistently dependable travel experience. By actively listening to feedback and continually enhancing the service, we have earned strong loyalty. 26% of pet parents have travelled with us more than once, which reflects the trust they place in the experience. This milestone strengthens our commitment to elevating pet travel in India and ensuring every journey is safer, more comfortable, and truly stress free for pets and their families.” 
 
Akasa Air has continuously evolved its pet travel offering based on customer feedback, introducing thoughtful enhancements such as allowing up to three pets per flight, increasing the in-cabin weight limit to 10 kg (including the carrier), simplifying booking processes, and adopting a more flexible health certification policy. These efforts align with the airline’s broader philosophy of building a warm and reliable flying experience. 
  
Customers travelling with their pets on Akasa Air enjoy a range of complimentary value-added services, including a pre-booked window seat, priority check-in and boarding, ensuring an elevated flying experience. Akasa Air has undertaken extensive research and provided specialised training for its customer care centre, ground services and in-flight teams, highlighting its commitment to delivering the highest standards of care, safety, and comfort throughout the journey. Moreover, Akasa Air has also partnered with Umeed for Animals Foundation, a Gurgaon-based non-profit animal rehabilitation dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating animals. The airline works with the NGO to implement best practices across processes and policies to continuously enhance pet comfort and safety. 

Launched on November 1, 2022, Pets on Akasa allows customers to travel on domestic flights across 26 cities with their cats and dogs in the cabin or cargo, based on their weight. As pet ownership continues to rise in India and travel preferences evolve, Akasa Air remains focused on strengthening its position as India’s most trusted airline for pet parents, while continuing to set new benchmarks in reliability, care and customer experience.