Akasa Air, India’s fastest-growing airline, has announced that it has successfully flown over 10,000 pets since introducing its ‘Pets on Akasa’ service in November 2022, reinforcing its position as India’s most dependable and pet-friendly carrier.
The milestone reflects growing confidence among pet parents in the airline’s safe and inclusive pet travel framework, built around comfort, reliability and consistency. Since its launch, Akasa Air’s pet travel service has witnessed strong and sustained demand across its domestic network, with repeat bookings serving as a key indicator of customer trust.
To celebrate the achievement, Akasa Air recognised its 10,000th pet traveller, Topshe, on flight QP 1559 from Mumbai to Kolkata. A small celebration was held at the check-in area, followed by onboard and arrival acknowledgements. The pet parent received special giveaways and commemorative photographs, making the journey a memorable one for both the family and airline staff.
Pet travel has shown the highest surge during the festive season, with October to December contributing nearly 35% of total annual journeys. Monthly volumes during this period rose by over 63%, signalling a growing trend among Indian travellers to fly with their pets during holidays.
Bengaluru–Delhi–Bengaluru emerged as the most popular pet route, accounting for 13.66% of total pet travel, followed by strong movement across Tier II and III cities, including Guwahati. Of the 10,000 pets flown, 60% were dogs and 40% cats, with 93% of all pets travelling in-cabin, underscoring pet parents’ preference for staying close to their companions during flights.
One customer, for instance, has flown 26 times between Mumbai and Goa with his miniature poodle, Romeo—demonstrating the consistency and trust Akasa Air has built among repeat pet travellers.
Commenting on the milestone, Naarayan T V, Chief Marketing Officer, Akasa Air, said, “From the very start, Pets on Akasa was designed around the needs of pet parents, ensuring structure, safety, and comfort at every step. By listening closely to feedback and continually enhancing the service, we’ve built strong loyalty—26% of pet parents have travelled with us more than once. This milestone reaffirms our commitment to making pet travel safer, stress-free, and more inclusive for families across India.”
Akasa Air has progressively enhanced its pet travel policies to meet customer expectations. Recent upgrades include allowing up to three pets per flight, increasing the in-cabin weight limit to 10 kg (including carrier), and simplifying booking and health certification procedures.
Passengers travelling with pets benefit from complimentary services such as priority check-in, boarding and a pre-booked window seat. To ensure care and safety, Akasa Air has provided specialised training to customer care, ground services and in-flight teams, supported by collaboration with Umeed for Animals Foundation, a Gurgaon-based non-profit dedicated to animal rescue and rehabilitation.
Launched in November 2022, ‘Pets on Akasa’ allows passengers to fly with cats and dogs in the cabin or cargo, depending on weight. With rising pet ownership and changing travel trends, Akasa Air continues to strengthen its leadership in pet-friendly aviation, setting new standards for safe, compassionate, and accessible travel experiences.
