There’s A ‘First Of Its Kind’ Airline For Dogs: Bark Air Takes Flight
There’s a new airline that puts dogs first, Bark Air. It’s scheduled to take its first flight today (May 30) from New York to Los Angeles at 4 p.m. EST. According to Bark’s booking website, this flight is sold out.
Airlines have faced various challenges in accommodating passengers flying with their dogs, and balancing pet-friendly policies with passenger expectations. Some carriers, such as American Airlines, have eased their pet policies to provide a more welcoming experience for travelers with pets. However, issues continue to arise. Incidents like a woman allegedly being removed from a flight for petting her dog, and an unleashed dog freely roaming the cabin and relieving itself during a flight to Los Angeles. These instances highlight the ongoing challenges airlines have with passengers and their dogs.
Bark, a pet company founded in 2011 that sells dog food and other products, announced the new aviation experience for canines in April. It’s the second air travel service to market itself as catering to pets before human passengers, recognizing how “stressful and uncomfortable commercial air travel can be for animals.”
According to the company’s new release, the United Kingdom-based public charter operator K9 jets also lets passengers’ pets travel next to them in the aircraft cabin, versus in crates in commercial aircraft cargo holds.
“We are excited to take the insights we’ve learned over the years to create an experience that is truly dog-first, which is drastically different from just accepting dogs – from the ground to the skies,” Bark co-founder and CEO Matt Meeker said in April. “We believe this initiative will elevate awareness of our brand’s mission and values, introduce more dog lovers to the Bark family, and help enrich the lives of dogs and their people around the world.”
The company said it launched the air travel experience to make long-distance travel more comfortable for dogs that don’t fit under the seats in front of passengers on commercial aircraft.
“Too often, dogs are denied travel, confined to a duffle bag, or endure the stress of flying in cargo,” the company said in announcing the flights in April.
More About Bark Air
Bark Air says it will offer “white paw service” to its canine customers who’ll even get to socialize with other dogs in what the company calls a “dog-centric” cabin configuration. Like first-class human passengers, the company said dogs will be offered treats, noise-canceling earmuffs, a beverage of their choice, and other surprises.
The service will fly between the New York City metro area and Los Angeles, as well as from New York to London. More routes will be added soon, the company said.
Bark Air will operate as a public charter service, flying on spacious Gulfstream G5 jets. It does not own or operate any aircraft. Each dog ticket comes with a pass for one human. Families may also purchase additional passes. Children under the age of 18 are not permitted aboard. There are no size or breed restrictions for dogs.
How much does it cost?
According to the company, a one-way flight from New York to Los Angeles in June costs $6,000 for one dog and one human. A New York to London ticket costs $8,000.
CBS News reported that Meeker acknowledged the service’s high cost in a May letter, but said he expects prices to come down as demand climbs.
