pet transport industry news

A search-and-rescue team from Spain was transported to Haiti to assist with recovery efforts.It's difficult for us on the outside to look at the devastation and tragedy in Haiti and not be able to do anything.  Those who are able to assist financially are urged to donate through the Red Cross.  Thankfully, the airlines have been stepping in and flying teams of medical professionals to Haiti to help those who need it the most.  In addition to health professionals, pet friendly airlines like Continental have been assisting with the transportation of search and rescue dogs, key players in the rescue and recovery efforts currently going on in Haiti.

The Management team at American Airlines advises that Port Au Prince Airport (PAP) in Haiti is still operating at a minimal standard.  Their report is as follows:

“Aftershocks are still occurring. The Air Traffic Control tower has no glass. Runway lights are working, but not on typically to save power.  There is no fuel available. I do not have word on stairs, loaders etc. The perimeter fence is OK and there are armed guards posted around the airport. The four roads leading into the airport are still mostly impassable. The terminal is badly damaged. We are taking engineering support in tomorrow (Thursday) to review the terminal structure."

Despite all of this, a search-and-rescue dog team from Spain was able to travel on Continental Airlines via Newark, New Jersey to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where they then made their way to Haiti.  The 10 handlers were traveling with four specially trained search-and-rescue dogs in the cabin of the aircraft (a special arrangement made for the extenuating circumstances -- normally dogs of this size would not be allowed in the passenger cabin of the airplane).  Continental waived the pet fees typically associated with in cabin and cargo travel as a way of contributing to the rescue efforts in Haiti.

The picture was taken of the group at Terminal C in Newark Airport during the team's connection from their origin in Madrid.  Continental's PetSafe team relieved the handlers of the pets by walking, feeding and watering the dogs during their layover.

We will continue to keep you updated on the status of Port Au Prince Airport as well as keep the people of Haiti in our thoughts and prayers.

Last night we received an important notice concerning pets traveling to South Africa from the EU from our agents.

Beginning on 1 April 2010, all dogs traveling to South Africa from EU countries must be tested for all five of the following parasites with negative results:

1. Brucella canis
2. Trypanosoma evansi
3. Babesia gibsoni
4. Dirofilaria immitis
5. Leishmania

Felines remain unaffected by these new regulations.

This change has come to effect due to the EU open border policies.  Pets coming from other countries will still only need to be tested for parasites which are present in their country.

For example, pets traveling from the US to South Africa still only need to be tested for all of the parasites listed above except for trypanosoma evansi, as it is not a parasite found in the US.

If you have any questions about the new South African pet travel requirements, feel free to email us.

An article in the New York Times this week features a feathery situation in the airport security line.  Joe Sharkey, a Times reporter, was faced with flying his two parrots, Rosie (an African Grey) and Petey (a blue-and-gold Macaw) from Newark to Phoenix.  A difficult task under the best of circumstances, Sharkey found himself receiving a long, hard look from the TSA before boarding with Rosie, who would be flying with him in-cabin.  Then the time came for Rosie to be inspected by the TSA, which required looking under her wings for explosives:

My wife and I had never before flown with our two parrots, but this time they had to come along on our nonstop flight to Phoenix. Rosie could fly in the cabin.  ... We were very anxious at the checkpoint. My wife solved the problem, though. One of Rosie’s tricks is to spread her wings and lower her beak if you ask her to imitate an eagle.

“Rosie, do an eagle,” my wife said. Inside her cage with the screener’s face framed in the open door, the bird promptly spread her wings wide. The screener had his look under the wings and lowered his wand. Merriment ensued all around — but it had to look pretty silly.

Flying with pets has always been somewhat difficult but tighter security restrictions are making pet travel, particularly in-cabin, even more stressful.

Almost a year ago, we reported a confusing pet travel directive issued by the TSA that made it impossible for pets originating from outside the US to be shipped unaccompanied or as manifest cargo without going through a "Regulated Agent" or "IATA-Approved" shipper.  Breeders who were used to sending their pets to Canada and then arranging to ship them back through other breeders suddenly found themselves in a tight spot, with their show dogs and breeding stock stuck across the border.  It also meant that someone living in a more remote city/country where there might not be a freight forwarder or registered agent who is capable and/or willing to book pets as cargo would have to either travel with their pet back to the US or leave the pet behind. 

We just recieved this report from Lufthansa regarding heavy snowfall in Germany:

Repeated heavy snowfall in Germany has caused severe delays of flights as well as numerous flight cancellations. This has the following impact on live animal handling:

Frankfurt:

Delays in Import and Export: For today, 21-Dec-2009, a complete embargo had to be imposed for freight transportation on flights to destinations in Germany and Europe. Exceptions apply for MAIL/VIC, AVI, DIP, HUM and LHO - provided that the booked flights can operate. Loading of intercontinental flights continues. However, delays have to be expected for both, Passenger and Freighter flights. We expect further irregularities for tomorrow and hope to be back to normal operations latest on Wednesday provided that the weather situation stabilizes.

Munich:

Except for a few flight delays, operations run normally.

Dusseldorf:

Delays in exports on intercontinental flights.

If you have questions regarding the situation at other stations, we will gladly provide the information on request.

All your shipments will be rebooked to the next possible connection. We sincerely regret the delays. Please rest assured that we do everything we can to transport your shipments to their final destinations as quickly as possible.

For further information, please visit www.lufthansa-cargo.com or contact our Customer Support Center at 1-800-LH-CARGO (1-800-542-2746).  Please do not reply to this e-mail as we are not able to respond to messages sent to this address.

In August, we notified people who might be traveling with pets to South Korea that South Korea was restricting pets arriving in the country to arriving only as cargo due to pneumonic plague concerns.

As of now, the pneumonic plague concerns have lessened and pets coming from all countries except for China may arrive as cargo, excess luggage/baggage and carry on.  Bookings should be made as usual and the standard South Korea pet import requirements remain the same.

Yesterday we wrote about the potential British Airways strike for next week.  The strike has now been prevented by an injunction in the courts, so if you're traveling on British Airways, you should be fine.  We'll keep you posted!

More on the strike from ABC News here.

If you are traveling with pets to London during the holidays, you'll want to avoid using British Airways.  A strike of their cabin crew from this upcoming Tuesday through January 2nd means cancellations for the entire fleet.  The UK's Telegraph has more:

The vast majority of BA flights are likely simply to be cancelled - with passengers facing a fight to make alternative travel arrangements in time. British Airways said it would offer customers a full refund, or the opportunity to travel at a later date. It will not, however, offer to pay for passengers to travel on another carrier. And compensation will only be paid after it has been confirmed the flight has been cancelled - something that could be decided at a few days' notice.

So what to do if you are needing to fly your pet to the UK sometime in the next two weeks?  Continental is a great pet-friendly alternative offering pet flights to and from London but you'll want to book early -- space for pets is filling up fast because of BA's limitations.  Or feel free to give us a call (877-PET-MOVE) and we'll make sure your pets arrive safely in the UK in time for the holidays!

If you're thinking of moving or traveling with your pets to Germany, Continental Airlines just announced their new non-stop flights frmo Houston to Frankfurt.  As a result, we're now able to offer pet-friendly bookings on both Lufthansa and Continental going direct to Frankfurt.  It's not too late for some Oktoberfest!

If you're moving pets to the UK in thA PetRelocation.com customer Cynthia with her dog in front of Big Ben in Londone near future, you now have a new option as to where you can fly into.  This week, DEFRA approved the London Oxford Airport as the second General Aviation/Business Aviation Airport in the UK for the importation of domestic pets.

More than 180 million travelers are 55 years or older these days and choosing to take their pets along with them according to a new website called TripsWithPets.com.